Article
Neurosciences
Andreas B. Wulff, Charles D. Nichols, Scott M. Thompson
Summary: Psychedelic compounds have shown great potential in treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as treatment-resistant depression. This review examines the preclinical models and experimental approaches used to study the neurobiological actions of these drugs, and explores the possible mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects, including receptor binding and activation of signaling cascades. It also discusses potential biological processes that may be altered by psychedelics to produce lasting symptom improvement.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sanket B. Raut, Padmaja A. Marathe, Liza van Eijk, Rajaraman Eri, Manoj Ravindran, David M. Benedek, Robert J. Ursano, Juan J. Canales, Luke R. Johnson
Summary: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic debilitating condition in need of new treatment options. Early evidence suggests the beneficial effects of psychedelics in combination with psychotherapy for managing PTSD. Research into memory reconsolidation mechanisms has identified pharmacological targets to disrupt abnormally persistent memories. Novel therapeutic approaches like neuropeptide Y, oxytocin, etc., have also shown potential for PTSD treatment.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
D. J. Heal, S. L. Smith, S. J. Belouin, J. E. Henningfield
Summary: This Special Issue of Neuropharmacology provides an update on the progress made in basic and clinical research on psychedelics since 2018. The contributions include insights from a seminar series organized by the NIH and reviews by renowned scientists in the field. The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designations for psilocybin and MDMA, and clinical trials are ongoing to assess their therapeutic value in various indications. The transition of psychedelics from bench to mainstream therapies has global implications, with increased international interest and efforts expected upon FDA approval of these new medicines.
Article
Neurosciences
Steven F. Grieco, Eero Castren, Gitte M. Knudsen, Alex C. Kwan, David E. Olson, Yi Zuo, Todd C. Holmes, Xiangmin Xu
Summary: Psychedelic drugs have regained attention as tools for treating brain disorders. Recent research suggests that they may exert therapeutic effects by influencing neural plasticity. This article showcases basic and clinical research on the mechanisms of psychedelic drugs, covering topics such as receptor binding, gene expression, and their effects on brain circuits.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nicole Fadahunsi, Gitte Moos Knudsen, Christoffer Clemmensen
Summary: Classic psychedelics are being reconsidered as novel drug candidates for disorders like depression and addiction. The neurobiological similarities between facets of obesity pathophysiology and these conditions suggest that obesity could be the next frontier in psychedelic research.
NATURE REVIEWS ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rafael Guimaraes dos Santos, Jose Carlos Bouso, Juliana Mendes Rocha, Giordano Novak Rossi, Jaime E. Hallak
Summary: Psychedelics act by agonizing serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors, leading to changes in perception, cognitive processes, and mood. Despite historical use in ritual contexts, these substances have gained interest in science and industry for their potential antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND HEALTHCARE POLICY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
R. Guglielmo, G. Hasler
Summary: The monoamine hypothesis, which has been dominating the research on mood disorders and development of therapeutic drugs for over half a century, is now being challenged by the emerging evidence implicating the glutamate system in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Bipolar disorder is being reconceptualized as a disorder related to synaptic plasticity, and the shift from a monoamine hypothesis to a neuroplasticity hypothesis focused on glutamate may lead to significant advancements in the research for new drugs and therapies.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joao Pedro Evangelista Ferreira, Stella Bortoli, Airton Vicente Pereira
Summary: This study reviews and compares the pharmacological and molecular aspects of psychedelic indoleamines and entactogen substances, highlighting their potential as novel drugs in the field of psychiatry and as psychotherapy adjuvants. The analysis allows for the contemplation of molecular design strategies for drugs with desirable pharmacological profiles.
REVISTA VIRTUAL DE QUIMICA
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Bashkim Kadriu, Maximillian Greenwald, Ioline D. Henter, Jessica R. Gilbert, Christoph Kraus, Lawrence T. Park, Carlos A. Zarate
Summary: Ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics may share a common mechanism in generating rapid neuroplastic effects and affecting cortical network activity that lead to antidepressant efficacy. Despite some similarities, the connection between the psychoactive component and antidepressant efficacy of these drugs remains unclear and requires further research. The prototypic nature of ketamine research and recent progress in this area suggest a promising platform for investigating new classes of rapid-acting antidepressants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jenessa N. Johnston, Bashkim Kadriu, Josh Allen, Jessica R. Gilbert, Ioline D. Henter, Carlos A. Zarate
Summary: The discovery of ketamine as a rapid-acting antidepressant has led to significant research on its mechanisms of action and identification of other similar compounds. Serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) have shown potential in treating depression, but conducting controlled trials and long-term clinical observation pose challenges. This review compares the psychoactive effects and mechanisms of action of ketamine and SPs and highlights their similarities in downstream mechanisms, such as mTORC1 signaling and GABAA receptor activity. However, research on SPs is still in its early stages compared to ketamine.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Isak Joneborg, Yena Lee, Joshua D. Di Vincenzo, Felicia Ceban, Shakila Meshkat, Leanna M. W. Lui, Farhan Fancy, Joshua D. Rosenblat, Roger S. McIntyre
Summary: This article evaluates the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression and substance use disorders. Several clinical trials show that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy has a positive impact on primary outcome measures, although the data is mixed. The mechanisms of ketamine, such as NMDAR inhibition and increased synaptic neuroplasticity, are believed to contribute to its therapeutic effects.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Devon Stoliker, Gary F. Egan, Adeel Razi
Summary: Evidence suggests that classic psychedelics can reduce the precision of belief updating and provide access to a range of alternate hypotheses that support our understanding of the world. This process, believed to occur in the higher cortical areas, is thought to explain the therapeutic effectiveness of psychedelics in treating internalizing disorders. We argue that reduced precision also plays a role in ego dissolution, a change in consciousness, and that alterations in consciousness and attention under psychedelics are connected through a shared mechanism of reduced precision in Bayesian belief updating. Evidence linking serotonergic receptors to large-scale connectivity changes in the cortex suggests that the precision of Bayesian belief updating may be a mechanism for modifying and investigating consciousness and attention.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Michiel van Elk, David Bryce Yaden
Summary: This paper provides a critical review of the possible mechanisms underlying the effects and therapeutic potential of psychedelics at different levels of analysis. It explores the biochemical, neural, and psychological effects of psychedelics, and discusses the potential for a unified account of these mechanisms. Understanding the specific mechanisms of psychedelics could lead to more targeted therapeutic approaches.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sascha B. B. Thal, Stephen J. J. Bright, Jason M. M. Sharbanee, Tobias Wenge, Petra M. M. Skeffington
Summary: This narrative review provides a current perspective on the preconditions and theoretical knowledge for appropriate therapeutic conduct in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT), emphasizing ethics and the spiritual emphasis of therapeutic approaches. It summarizes current methods, models, and concepts of psychological mechanism of action and therapeutic effects of SAPT, discussing potential mediators for therapeutic effects. It argues that the therapeutic effect of SAPT may be mediated by intra- and interpersonal variables within the therapeutic context.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Caroline A. MacCallum, Lindsay A. Lo, Carly A. Pistawka, Jagpaul Kaur Deol
Summary: This article aims to provide practical considerations for psilocybin therapy to healthcare professionals, focusing on patient safety. The article covers topics such as psilocybin pharmacology, indications, practical therapeutic strategies, and safety considerations. By providing this information, the goal is to increase healthcare professionals' knowledge and comfort in discussing and counseling their patients on psilocybin therapy, ultimately improving patient care and safety.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Lindsay P. Cameron, David E. Olson
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David E. Olson
Summary: In addition to their profound subjective effects, psychedelic compounds can induce long-lasting beneficial behavioral changes relevant to the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. This may be due to their ability to promote neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex, leading to synaptic connectivity restoration. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity is crucial for developing improved alternatives for treating these disorders.
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew B. Pomrenze, Daniel F. Cardozo Pinto, Peter A. Neumann, Pierre Llorach, Jason M. Tucciarone, Wade Morishita, Neir Eshel, Boris D. Heifets, Robert C. Malenka
Summary: Social isolation plays a major role in the current opioid addiction crisis. Research shows that sociability deficits during opioid withdrawal are linked to the activation of kappa opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens. Blocking the release of dynorphin from dorsal raphe neurons prevents these deficits, while optogenetic activation of these neurons reproduces sociability decreases. Deleting KORs from serotonin neurons prevents sociability deficits, but not from NAc neurons or dopamine neurons.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lindsay P. Cameron, Seona D. Patel, Maxemiliano V. Vargas, Eden V. Barragan, Hannah N. Saeger, Hunter T. Warren, Winston L. Chow, John A. Gray, David E. Olson
Summary: Psychedelic compounds have potential in treating depression, but their undesired effects and unclear mechanisms limit their clinical scalability. This study demonstrates that activation of 5-HT2A receptors is essential for tryptamine-based psychedelics to produce antidepressant-like effects in rodents, suggesting that hallucinogenic and therapeutic effects are mediated by the same receptor.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Gabriela Ruiz D. Colon, Rika Ohkuma, Arjun V. Pendharkar, Boris D. Heifets, Gordon Li, Amy Lu, Melanie Hayden Gephart, John K. Ratliff
Summary: The NICE protocol has a long-term impact on postoperative length of stay, ICU utilization, readmissions, and complications in craniotomy patients. Implementation of the NICE protocol resulted in decreased postoperative length of stay, decreased ICU utilization, and reduced rates of readmission and complications.
Review
Anesthesiology
Anna Maria Bombardieri, Boris D. Heifets, Miriam Treggiari, Gregory W. Albers, Gary K. Steinberg, Jeremy J. Heit
Summary: This article provides a comprehensive review of the preclinical and human literature relevant to cervical sympathetic block (CSB) in the context of cerebral arterial vasospasm (CAV). The findings suggest that CSB may be a viable option for the treatment and prevention of CAV/delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert J. Tombari, Paige C. Mundy, Kelly M. Morales, Lee E. Dunlap, David E. Olson, Pamela J. Lein
Summary: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using psychedelics as therapeutic agents for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the potential developmental neurotoxicity of these compounds has not been thoroughly assessed, and the available safety data is limited. This study used a larval zebrafish model to screen 13 psychoactive compounds and found that tryptamines and ketamine were less neurotoxic to the larvae compared to LSD and psychostimulants. This research provides a valuable reference database for evaluating the neurotoxicity of novel psychedelics under development for therapeutic purposes.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel Ryskamp Rijsketic, Austen B. Casey, Daniel A. N. Barbosa, Xue Zhang, Tuuli M. Hietamies, Grecia Ramirez-Ovalle, Matthew B. Pomrenze, Casey H. Halpern, Leanne M. Williams, Robert C. Malenka, Boris D. Heifets
Summary: This study used mice as experimental subjects to investigate the effects of environmental context on psilocybin-induced neural activity. The results showed that psilocybin increased neural activity in certain subregions of the brain while decreasing activity in others. Overall, this study demonstrated significant effects of both context and psilocybin on network architecture.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel Wallace, David E. Olson, Jacob M. Hooker
Summary: Neuroplasticity is a complex concept that describes how the brain changes in response to various stimuli and its effects on human behavior. This viewpoint examines neuroplasticity from multiple perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of this ambiguous term. By highlighting its relevance in both health and disease, it emphasizes the significance of neuroplasticity in chemical neuroscience.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tuuli M. Hietamies, L. Alison McInnes, Andrew J. Klise, Matthew J. Worley, Jimmy J. Qian, Leanne M. Williams, Boris D. Heifets, Steven P. Levine
Summary: This retrospective analysis evaluated the outcomes of KIT in community clinics in the US and found that patients experienced significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms after induction. Compared to patients who did not receive KIT, those who underwent KIT showed a greater reduction in depression symptoms at eight weeks. The study also identified a subgroup of late-responders. During maintenance, symptoms remained stable with minimal exacerbation.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura M. Hack, Xue Zhang, Boris D. Heifets, Trisha Suppes, Peter J. van Roessel, Jerome A. Yesavage, Nancy J. Gray, Rachel Hilton, Claire Bertrand, Carolyn I. Rodriguez, Karl Deisseroth, Brian Knutson, Leanne M. Williams
Summary: The neural mechanisms underlying ketamine-induced altered states of consciousness are not well understood. In this study, the authors show that depersonalization and dissociative amnesia related to ketamine have opposing effects on the activity of the right anterior insula in response to social threat.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Winston L. Chow, Monica A. Gonzalez, Arabo A. Avanes, David E. Olson
Summary: Tropane alkaloids are biologically active small molecules with diverse medicinal applications. This study presents a general synthetic approach for producing tropane alkaloids and analogues, leading to the synthesis of six tropane alkaloids and several analogues in a few steps. The orientation of the C3 substituent may play a role in the psychoplastogenic effects of tropane alkaloids.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel A. N. Barbosa, Sandra Gattas, Juliana S. Salgado, Fiene Marie Kuijper, Allan R. Wang, Yuhao Huang, Bina Kakusa, Christoph Leuze, Artur Luczak, Paul Rapp, Robert C. Malenka, Dora Hermes, Kai J. Miller, Boris D. Heifets, Cara Bohon, Jennifer A. Mcnab, Casey H. Halpern
Summary: This study reveals an orexigenic circuit in the human hippocampus involved in appetite regulation. The circuit involves the lateral hypothalamus and the dorsolateral hippocampus, and is implicated in obesity and related eating disorders.