Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)Depressive DisordersPTSDAnxiety DisordersPalliative & End-of-Life DistressMedicinal Chemistry & Drug Development

Psychedelics and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

This review (2020) finds that randomised clinical trials (RCTs) support the efficacy of various psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health disorders.

Authors

  • Charles Nemeroff

Published

American Journal of Psychiatry
meta Study

Abstract

Objective

The authors provide an evidenced-based summary of the literature on the clinical application of psychedelic drugs in psychiatric disorders.

Methods

Searches of PubMed and PsycINFO via Ovid were conducted for articles in English, in peer-reviewed journals, reporting on “psilocybin,” “lysergic acid diethylamide,” “LSD,” “ayahuasca,” “3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine,” and “MDMA,” in human subjects, published between 2007 and July 1, 2019. A total of 1,603 articles were identified and screened. Articles that did not contain the terms “clinical trial,” “therapy,” or “imaging” in the title or abstract were filtered out. The 161 remaining articles were reviewed by two or more authors. The authors identified 14 articles reporting on well-designed clinical trials investigating the efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and ayahuasca for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders, and substance-related and addictive disorders as well as in end-of-life care.

Results

The most significant database exists for MDMA and psilocybin, which have been designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “breakthrough therapies” for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression, respectively. The research on LSD and ayahuasca is observational, but available evidence suggests that these agents may have therapeutic effects in specific psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

Randomized clinical trials support the efficacy of MDMA in the treatment of PTSD and psilocybin in the treatment of depression and cancer-related anxiety. The research to support the use of LSD and ayahuasca in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is preliminary, although promising. Overall, the database is insufficient for FDA approval of any psychedelic compound for routine clinical use in psychiatric disorders at this time, but continued research on the efficacy of psychedelics for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is warranted.

Available with Blossom Pro

Research Summary of 'Psychedelics and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy'

Introduction

Plant-derived hallucinogens have been used in religious and healing contexts across cultures for centuries, but systematic scientific investigation of their therapeutic potential only began in earnest following Albert Hofmann's synthesis of LSD at Sandoz Laboratories in 1938 and discovery of its psychoactive properties in 1943. A first wave of clinical research produced thousands of studies involving tens of thousands of patients, but was abruptly curtailed by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which classified LSD and other psychedelics as Schedule I compounds without recognised medical use. The past two decades have witnessed a carefully controlled revival of psychedelic research, with the FDA granting breakthrough therapy designation to both MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression — designations reflecting the preliminary but striking magnitude of clinical effects observed in phase II trials. This evidence-based review aimed to summarise the clinical literature on the therapeutic application of four psychedelic compounds — psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA — across a range of psychiatric indications, with particular attention to the quality of the available trial evidence and the implications for future research and clinical development.

Expert Research Summaries

Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.

See Pro PlansAlready have an account? Sign in

Full Text PDF

Full Paper PDF

Pro members can view the original manuscript directly in the browser.

See Pro PlansAlready have an account? Sign in
Open PDF in new tab

Study Details

References (71)

Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom

Clinical Applications of Hallucinogens: A Review

Garcia-Romeu, A., Kersgaard, B., Addy, P. H. · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016)

174 cited
A consensus statement on the use of ketamine in the treatment of mood disorders

Sanacora, G., Frye, M. A., McDonald, W. et al. · JAMA Psychiatry (2017)

470 cited
Ketamine and Other NMDA Antagonists: Early Clinical Trials and Possible Mechanisms in Depression

Newport, D. J., Carpenter, L. L., Mcdonald, W. M. et al. · American Journal of Psychiatry (2015)

Receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive tryptamines compared with classic hallucinogens

Rickli, A., Moning, O. D., Hoener, M. C. et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology (2016)

Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function

Johnson, M. W., Hendricks, P. S., Barrett, F. S. et al. · Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2019)

Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance

Dinis-Oliveira, R. J. · Drug Metabolism Reviews (2017)

The pharmacology of psilocybin

Passie, T., Seifert, J., Schneider, U. et al. · Addiction Biology (2002)

High dose psilocybin is associated with positive subjective effects in healthy volunteers

Nicholas, C. R., Henriquez, K. M., Gassman, M. C. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2018)

61 cited
Psilocybin dose-dependently causes delayed, transient headaches in healthy volunteers

Johnson, M. W., Sewell, R. A., Griffiths, R. R. · Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2012)

Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T. et al. · PNAS (2012)

Show all 71 references
The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Shanahan, M. et al. · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2014)

Pilot study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety in patients with advanced-stage cancer

Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S. et al. · JAMA Psychiatry (2011)

Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial

Ross, S., Bossis, A. P., Guss, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)

Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction

Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Cosimano, M. P. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2014)

Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin

Barrett, F. S., Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)

Factor analysis of the mystical experience questionnaire: A study of experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin

MacLean, K. A., Leoutsakos, J. S., Johnson, M. W. et al. · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2012)

350 cited
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors

Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)

393 cited
Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses

Geyer, M. A., Vollenweider, F. X. · Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (2008)

Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies

Studerus, E., Kometer, M., Hasler, F. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2010)

423 cited
Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences

Carbonaro, T. M., Bradstreet, M. P., Barrett, F. S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)

Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Psilocybin in 9 Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Moreno, F. A., Wiegand, C. B., Taitano, E. K. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2006)

Safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases

Gasser, P., Holstein, D., Michel, Y. et al. · Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2014)

594 cited
LSD Increases Primary Process Thinking via Serotonin 2A Receptor Activation

Sumiyoshi, T., Kraehenmann, R., Pokorny, D. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2017)

LSD acutely impairs fear recognition and enhances emotional empathy and sociality

Dolder, P. C., Schmid, Y., Müller, F. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2016)

Dreams and psychedelics: neurophenomenological comparison and therapeutic implications

Kraehenmann, R. · Current Neuropharmacology (2017)

68 cited
Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans

Liechti, M. E., Dolder, P. C., Schmid, Y. · Psychopharmacology (2016)

190 cited
The paradoxical psychological effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kaelen, M., Bolstridge, M. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2016)

253 cited
Recent advances in the neuropsychopharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens

Halberstadt, A. L. · Behavioural Brain Research (2014)

The fabric of meaning and subjective effects in LSD-induced states depend on serotonin 2A receptor activation

Preller, K. H., Herdener, M., Pokorny, T. et al. · Current Biology (2017)

Increased thalamic resting state connectivity as a core driver of LSD-induced hallucinations

Lenz, C., Dolder, P. C., Lang, U. E. et al. · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (2017)

The pharmacology of lysergic acid diethylamide: a review

Passie, T., Halpern, J. H., Stichtenoth, D. O. et al. · CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics (2008)

The current state of research on ayahuasca: A systematic review of human studies assessing psychiatric symptoms, neuropsychological functioning, and neuroimaging

Dos Santos, R. G., Balthazar, F. M., Bouso, J. C. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)

Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study.

Johansen, P. Ø., Krebs, T. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)

A Review of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in the Treatment of Addictions: Historical Perspectives and Future Prospects

Liester, M. B. · Current Drug Abuse Reviews (2015)

Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

Nichols, D. E. · ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2018)

Acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide in healthy subjects

Schmid, Y., Enzler, F., Gasser, P. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2015)

Long-lasting subjective effects of LSD in normal subjects

Schmid, Y., Liechti, M. E. · Psychopharmacology (2017)

Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Mccann, U. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2006)

Acute effects of LSD on amygdala activity during processing of fearful stimuli in healthy subjects

Mueller, F., Lenz, C., Dolder, P. C. et al. · Translational Psychiatry (2017)

Acute Subjective and Behavioral Effects of Microdoses of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Human Volunteers

Bershad, A. K., Schepers, S. T., Bremmer, M. P. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2019)

Subjective effects and tolerability of the South American psychoactive beverage Ayahuasca in healthy volunteers

Riba, J., Urbano, G., Morte, A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2001)

New World Tryptamine Hallucinogens and the Neuroscience of Ayahuasca

McKenna, D., Riba, J. · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences (2016)

Psychedelics and the human receptorome

Ray, T. S. · PLOS ONE (2010)

265 cited
Serotonergic Hallucinogen-Induced Visual Perceptual Alterations

Kometer, M., Vollenweider, F. X. · Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs (2016)

Ayahuasca dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies

Dos Santos, R. G., Hallak, J. E., Bouso, J. C. · Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology (2017)

Report on psychoactive drug use among adolescents using ayahuasca within a religious context

Doering-Silveira, E., Grob, C. S., Dobkin de Rios, M. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2005)

114 cited
Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report

Osório, F. L., Sanches, R. F., Macedo, L. et al. · brazilian Journal of Psychiatry (2015)

420 cited
Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression a SPECT study

Sanches, R. F., Osório, F. L., Dos Santos, R. G. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016)

380 cited
MDMA-assisted therapy: A new treatment model for social anxiety in autistic adults

Danforth, A. L., Struble, C., Yazar-Klosinski, B. et al. · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (2016)

Increased oxytocin concentrations and prosocial feelings in humans after ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) administration

Dumont, G., Sweep, F., van der Steen, R. et al. · Social Neuroscience (2009)

230 cited
Inhibition of serotonin transporters disrupts the enhancement of fear memory extinction by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

Young, M. B., Norrholm, S. D., Khoury, L. M. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2017)

Multifaceted empathy of healthy volunteers after single doses of MDMA: a pooled sample of placebo-controlled studies

Kuypers, K. P. C., Dolder, P. C., Ramaekers, J. G. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)

The prosocial effects of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): controlled studies in humans and laboratory animals

Kamilar-Britt, P., Bedi, G. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2015)

Positive psychology in the investigation of psychedelics and entactogens: A critical review

Jungaberle, H., Thal, S., Zeuch, A. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2018)

The Potential Dangers of Using MDMA for Psychotherapy

Parrott, A. C. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2014)

Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: A naturalistic study

Stewart, L., Ferguson, B., Morgan, C. J. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2014)

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial

Mithoefer, A. T., Mithoefer, M. C., Feduccia, A. A. et al. · Lancet Psychiatry (2018)

274 cited
Effects of MDMA alone and after pretreatment with reboxetine, duloxetine, clonidine, carvedilol, and doxazosin on pupillary light reflex

Hysek, C. M., Liechti, M. E. · Psychopharmacology (2012)

62 cited
Acute dose of MDMA (75 mg) impairs spatial memory for location but leaves contextual processing of visuospatial information unaffected

Kuypers, K. P. C., Ramaekers, J. G. · Psychopharmacology (2006)

68 cited
MDMA alters emotional processing and facilitates positive social interaction

Wardle, M. C., De Wit, H. · Psychopharmacology (2014)

Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study

Mithoefer, M. C., Wagner, M. T., Mithoefer, A. T. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2012)

346 cited
Therapeutic infusions of ketamine: do the psychoactive effects matter?

Dakwar, E., Anerella, C., Hart, C. L. et al. · Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2014)

The role of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review

Serafini, G., Howland, R. H., Rovedi, F. et al. · Current Neuropharmacology (2014)

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Muthukumaraswamy, S., Roseman, L. et al. · PNAS (2016)

The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the treatment of mood disorders

Vollenweider, F. X., Kometer, M. · Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2010)

Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States

Preller, K. H., Vollenweider, F. X. · Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs (2016)

The effects of the preferential 5-HT2A agonist psilocybin on prepulse inhibition of startle in healthy human volunteers depend on interstimulus interval

Vollenweider, F. X., Csomor, P. A., Knappe, B. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2007)

Current perspectives on psychedelic therapy: use of serotonergic hallucinogens in clinical interventions

Richards, W. A., Garcia-Romeu, A. · International Review of Psychiatry (2018)

The influence of therapists’ first-hand experience with psychedelics on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research and therapist training

Nielson, E. M., Guss, J. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2018)

The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act

Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R., Hendricks, P. S. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2018)

Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation

Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R. · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2016)

562 cited

Cited By (79)

Papers in Blossom that reference this study

Synergies in psychedelic-assisted therapy: a qualitative interview study of psychotherapeutic processes

Stellmacher, J., Schmidt, C., Aicher, H. D. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2026)

Epidemiology of Hallucinogen Microdosing Among Young Adults in the United States: A National Study

Keyes, K. M., Terry-McElrath, Y., Patrick, M. E. · Drugs and Alcohol Review (2026)

Mystical experiences during magnesium-Ibogaine are associated with improvements in PTSD symptoms in veterans

Brown, R. E., Lissemore, J. I., Shinozuka, K. F. et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders (2026)

Psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression in the US: a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis

Avancena, A. L. V., Vuong, L., Kahn, J. G. et al. · Translational Psychiatry (2025)

Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/harmine formulation alters creative thinking dynamics during artistic creation

Suay, D., Aicher, H. D., Singer, B. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025)

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of co-administered N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmine in healthy subjects

Äbelö, A., Smallridge, J. W., Von Rotz, R. et al. · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2025)

Psilocybin in alcohol use disorder and comorbid depressive symptoms: Results from a feasibility randomized clinical trial

Luquiens, A., Belahda, D., Graux, C. et al. · Addiction (2025)

Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Subcutaneous RE104: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Single Ascending Dose Placebo-Controlled Study

Ludbrook, G., Bryson, N., Taylor, B. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2025)

Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics Administered to Military Veterans in Naturalistic Retreat Settings

Calnan, M., Blest-Hopley, G., Busch, C. et al. · Brain and Behavior (2025)

Enhancing mindfulness and compassion through an ayahuasca-inspired formulation containing N,N-DMT and harmine: A randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects

Aicher, H. D., Wicki, I. A., Meling, D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025)

Show all 79 papers
Ayahuasca-Inspired DMT/HAR Formulation Reduces Brain Differentiation Between Self and Other Faces

Suay, D., Aicher, H. D., Kometer, M. et al. · NeuroImage (2025)

Peri-traumatic consumption of classic psychedelics is associated with lower anxiety and post-traumatic responses 3 weeks after exposure

Karp Barnir, E., Rubinstein, Z., Abend, R. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025)

Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Bipolar II Disorder

Meshkat, S., Kaczmarek, E., Doyle, Z. et al. · Psychedelic Medicine (2025)

Strategies for resolving challenging psychedelic experiences: insights from a mixed-methods study

McAlpine, R., Kamboj, S. K. · Scientific Reports (2024)

Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors

Jiwani, Z., Goldberg, S. B., Stroud, J. et al. · MedRvix (2024)

4 cited
The Effect of Psychedelics on Individuals with a Personality Disorder: Results from two Prospective Cohort Studies

Gordon, A. R., Carrithers, B. M., Pagni, B. A. et al. · Research Square (2024)

The therapeutic alliance between study participants and intervention facilitators is associated with acute effects and clinical outcomes in a psilocybin-assisted therapy trial for major depressive disorder

Levin, A. W., Lancelotta, R., Sepeda, N. D. et al. · PLOS ONE (2024)

48 cited
American Psychiatrists' Opinions About Classic Hallucinogens and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications: A 7-Year Follow-Up Survey

Barnett, B. S., Arakelian, M., Beebe, D. et al. · Psychedelic Medicine (2024)

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant depression: A randomized clinical trial evaluating repeated doses of psilocybin

Rosenblat, J. D., Meshkat, S., Doyle, Z. et al. · Med (2024)

Membrane Permeation of Psychedelic Tryptamines by Dynamic Simulations

Palmisano, V. F., Agnorelli, C., Fagiolini, A. et al. · Biochemistry (2024)

Older adults in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials: A systematic review

Bouchet, L., Sager, Z., Yrondi, A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)

Potential therapeutic effects of an ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation: a controlled trial in healthy subjects

Aicher, H. D., Mueller, M. J., Dornbierer, D. A. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2024)

24 cited
Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment

David, J., Bouso, J. C., Kohek, M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)

Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status in healthy volunteers: An experimental, placebo-controlled study

Mason, N. L., Szabo, A., Kuypers, K. P. C. et al. · Brain Behavior and Immunity - Health (2023)

Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin for Treating Psychological Distress among Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Evidence on Acceptability and Potential Efficacy of Psilocybin Use

Card, K. G., Grewal, A., Closson, K. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)

Persons With Spinal Cord Injury Report Peripherally Dominant Serotonin-Like Syndrome After Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics

Abrams, S. K., Rabinovitch, B. S., Zafar, R. et al. · Neurotherapeutics (2023)

Psilocybin Therapy for Treatment Resistant Depression: Prediction of Clinical Outcome by Natural Language Processing

Dougherty, R. F., Clarke, P., Kuc, J. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2023)

Therapeutic mechanisms of psychedelics and entactogens

Heifets, B. D., Olson, D. E. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2023)

Interactive Effects of Ayahuasca and Cannabidiol in Social Cognition in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot, Proof-of-Concept, Feasibility, Randomized-Controlled Trial

Rossi, G. N., Rocha, J. M., Osório, F. L. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2023)

Overcoming blinding confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials using biomarker driven causal mediation analysis

Muthukumaraswamy, S. · Psyarxiv (2023)

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment of chronic pain and comorbid depression: a pilot study of two approaches

Batievsky, D., Weiner, M., Kaplan, S. B. et al. · Frontiers in Pain Research (2023)

TMS-EEG and resting-state EEG applied to Altered States of Consciousness: Oscillations, Complexity, and Phenomenology

Ort, A., Smallridge, J. W., Sarasso, S. et al. · iScience (2023)

Can psychedelics enhance group psychotherapy? A discussion on the therapeutic factors

Ponomarenko, P., Seragnoli, F., Calder, A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2023)

Reduced death anxiety as a mediator of the relationship between acute subjective effects of psychedelics and improved subjective well-being

Moreton, S. G., Arena, A. F., Foy, Y. et al. · Death Studies (2023)

The association between naturalistic use of psychedelics and co-occurring substance use disorders

Rabinowitz, J., Lev-Ran, S., Gross, R. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)

“A sense of the bigger picture:” A qualitative analysis of follow-up interviews with people with bipolar disorder who self-reported psilocybin use

DellaCrosse, M., Pleet, M. M., Morton, E. et al. · PLOS ONE (2022)

21 cited
Therapeutic uses of psychedelics for eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder

Ledwos, N., Rodas, J. D., Husain, M. I. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

Self-treatment of psychosis and complex post-traumatic stress disorder with LSD and DMT-A retrospective case study

Turkia, M. · Psychiatry Research (2022)

Holding on or letting go? Patient experiences of control, context, and care in oral esketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression: A qualitative study

Breeksema, J. J., Niemeijer, A. R., Kuin, B. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)

The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review

Prugger, J., Derdiyok, E., Dinkelacker, J. et al. · Scientific Data (2022)

Scoping Review of Experiential Measures from Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials

Herrmann, Z., Earleywine, M., De Leo, J. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)

Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity

Calder, A. E., Hasler, G. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2022)

Adverse events in clinical treatments with serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA: A mixed-methods systematic review

Breeksema, J. J., Kuin, B. W., Kamphuis, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

Is psychedelic use associated with cancer?: Interrogating a half-century-old claim using contemporary population-level data

Barnett, B. S., Ziegler, K., Doblin, R. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

11 cited
A Systematic Review of Neurocognitive Effects of Subanesthetic Doses of Intravenous Ketamine in Major Depressive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Healthy Population

Shiroma, P. R., Velit-Salazar, M. R., Vorobyov, Y. · Clinical Drug Investigation (2022)

9 cited
Models of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Contemporary Assessment and an Introduction to EMBARK, a Transdiagnostic, Trans-Drug Model

Belser, A. B. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)

57 cited
The challenges ahead for psychedelic ‘medicine’

Muthukumaraswamy, S., Forsyth, A., Sumner, R. L. · Australian and new-zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2022)

Virtual Reality as a Moderator of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Sekula, A. D., Downey, L., Puspanathan, P. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)

19 cited
A randomized controlled trial of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and fear extinction retention in healthy adults

Maples-Keller, J. L., Norrholm, S. D., Burton, M. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

42 cited
Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up

Davis, A. K., Streeter Barrett, F., Cosimano, M. P. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)

306 cited
The Need for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Black Community and the Burdens of its Provision

Smith, D., Faber, S., Buchanan, N. T. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)

The Psychedelic Renaissance in Clinical Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Three Decades of Human Studies with Classical Psychedelics

Hadar, A., David, J., Shalit, N. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)

Exploring the Credibility of Psilocybin-assisted Therapy and Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Depression

Altman, B. R., Earleywine, M., De Leo, J. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)

4 cited
Psychedelic Therapy's Transdiagnostic Effects: A Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Perspective

Dursun, S. M., Kelly, J. R., Gillan, C. M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

The readiness of psychiatrists to implement psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

Page, L., Rehman, A., Syed, H. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

30 cited
Psilocybin, a Naturally Occurring Indoleamine Compound, Could Be Useful to Prevent Suicidal Behaviors

Strumila, R., Guillaume, S. · Pharmaceuticals (2021)

Psychedelics as Novel Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease: Rationale and Potential Mechanisms

Garcia-Romeu, A., Darcy, S., Jackson, H. et al. · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences (2021)

Translating Psychedelic Therapies From Clinical Trials to Community Clinics: Building Bridges and Addressing Potential Challenges Ahead

Williams, M. L., Korevaar, D., Harvey, R. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

16 cited
Why was early therapeutic research on psychedelic drugs abandoned?

Hall, W. · Psychological Medicine (2021)

Lifetime use of psychedelics is associated with better mental health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cavanna, F., Pallavicini, C., Milano, V. et al. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2021)

Psychedelics, sociality, and human evolution

Rodríguez Arce, J. M., Winkelman, M. J. · Frontiers in Psychology (2021)

Psychedelic mushrooms in the USA: Knowledge, patterns of use and association with health outcomes

Matzopoulos, R., Morlock, A., Morlock, R. et al. · MedRvix (2021)

Critical Period Plasticity as a Framework for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Yehuda, R., Lepow, L., Morishita, H. · Frontiers in Neuroscience (2021)

Psychedelic Knowledge and Opinions in Psychiatrists at Two Professional Conferences: An Exploratory Survey

Barnett, B. S., Beaussant, Y., King, K. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2021)

Two Models of Legalization of Psychedelic Substances: Reasons for Concern

Smith, W. R., Appelbaum, P. S. · JAMA (2021)

Associations between ayahuasca consumption in naturalistic settings and current alcohol and drug use: Results of a large international cross-sectional survey

Perkins, D., Opaleye, E. S., Simonová, H. et al. · Drug and Alcohol Review (2021)

Does psychedelic therapy have a transdiagnostic action and prophylactic potential?

Kočárová, C., Horacek, J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

73 cited
LSD, madness and healing: Mystical experiences as possible link between psychosis model and therapy model

Wießner, I., Falchi, M., Palhano-Fontes, F. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2021)

Research abuses against people of colour and other vulnerable groups in early psychedelic research

Strauss, D., de la Salle, S., Sloshower, J. A. et al. · Journal of Medical Ethics (2021)

Catalysts for change: the cellular neurobiology of psychedelics

Bement, W., Banks, M. I., Zahid, Z. et al. · Molecular Biology of the Cell (2021)

31 cited
Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders

Siegel, A. N., Lipsitz, O., Gill, H. et al. · Journal of Psychiatric Research (2021)

A continuum hypothesis of psychotomimetic rapid antidepressants

Haarsma, J., Harmer, C. J., Tamm, S. · Brain and Neuroscience Advances (2021)

Evaluating the Risk of Psilocybin for the Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Systematic Review of Published Case Studies

Gard, D. E., Pleet, M. M., Bradley, E. R. et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders (2021)

A qualitative and quantitative account of patient’s experiences of ketamine and its antidepressant properties

Sumner, R. L., Chacko, E., Mcmillan, R. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)

51 cited
Classic serotonergic psychedelics for mood and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of mood disorder patients and healthy participants

Galvão-Coelho, N. L., Marx, W., Sinclair, J. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2021)

Virtual Reality and Psychedelics for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disease: A Systematic Literature Review

Ortiz, M. I., Gómez-Busto, F. J. · Clinical Neuropsychiatry (2020)

Psilocybin-Assisted Group Therapy and Attachment: Observed Reduction in Attachment Anxiety and Influences of Attachment Insecurity on the Psilocybin Experience

Stauffer, C., Anderson, B. T., Ortigo, K. M. et al. · ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science (2020)

51 cited
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After a Psychedelic Experience, a Case Report

Rubin-Kahana, D. S., Hassan, A. N., Le Foll, B. · Journal of Addiction Medicine (2020)

Are Psychedelics Something New in Teaching Psychopharmacology?

Louie, A. K., Beresin, E. V., Coverdale, J. et al. · Academic Psychiatry (2020)

Your Personal Research Library

Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.

See Pro PlansSign in