Psychedelic Medicine

Association

Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity

Excerpts from the publication

Classic psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, and the DMT-containing beverage ayahuasca, show some potential to treat depression, anxiety, and addiction. Importantly, clinical improvements can last for months or years after treatment. It has been theorized that these long-term improvements arise because psychedelics rapidly and lastingly stimulate neuroplasticity. The focus of this review is on answering specific questions about the effects of psychedelics on neuroplasticity. Firstly, we review the evidence that psychedelics promote neuroplasticity and examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the effects of different psychedelics on different aspects of neuroplasticity, including dendritogenesis, synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, and expression of plasticity-related genes (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor and immediate early genes). We then examine where in the brain psychedelics promote neuroplasticity, particularly discussing the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We also examine what doses are required to produce this effect (e.g., hallucinogenic doses vs. “microdoses”), and how long purported changes in neuroplasticity last. Finally, we discuss the likely consequences of psychedelics’ effects on neuroplasticity for both patients and healthy people, and we identify important research questions that would further scientific understanding of psychedelics’ effects on neuroplasticity and its potential clinical applications.

Read more

Ketamine Therapy in Patients of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Prospective Pilot Study to Evaluate Abstinence Rate with This Add-on Treatment Modality

Analgesic potential of macrodoses and microdoses of classical psychedelics in chronic pain sufferers: a population survey

Optimizing outcomes in psilocybin therapy: Considerations in participant evaluation and preparation

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

Updated cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: Findings from a phase 3 trial

5-HT2A SNPs Alter the Pharmacological Signaling of Potentially Therapeutic Psychedelics