Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tao Chen, Ling Cheng, Jingwen Ma, Jiyuan Yuan, Chao Pi, Linjin Xiong, Jinglin Chen, Huiyang Liu, Jia Tang, Yueting Zhong, Xiaomei Zhang, Zerong Liu, Ying Zuo, Hongping Shen, Yumeng Wei, Ling Zhao
Summary: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic relapsing psychiatric disorder with limited efficacy of conventional antidepressants. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine and 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin have demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects by affecting various synapse targets. This article reviews the new pharmacological targets and discusses possible strategies for future antidepressant research.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andrzej Pilc, Agata Machaczka, Pawel Kawalec, Jodi L. Smith, Jeffrey M. Witkin
Summary: Major depressive disorder is a prevalent global health problem. Current antidepressant medications have limitations and new antidepressants with different mechanisms are being developed. These new antidepressants, including NMDA receptor antagonists, psychedelic drugs, and muscarinic receptor antagonists, have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies, with rapid and sustained effects and efficacy in treatment-resistant patients.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Hewa Artin, Sidney Zisook, Dhakshin Ramanathan
Summary: Depression is a common mental disorder that often takes time to treat, leading to the development of novel antidepressants such as ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics. While these new drugs show promising results, their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood.
WORLD JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Kevin H. Yang, Benjamin H. Han, Joseph J. Palamar
Summary: The study found differences in the association between specific hallucinogens and depression and suicidality. LSD use was associated with an increased likelihood of major depressive episode and suicidal thinking, while salvia divinorum use was associated with suicidal thinking and DMT/AMT/Foxy use was associated with suicidal planning. On the other hand, ecstasy use was associated with a decreased likelihood of serious psychological distress, major depressive episode, and suicidal thinking.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ling-Xiao Shao, Clara Liao, Ian Gregg, Pasha A. Davoudian, Neil K. Savalia, Kristina Delagarza, Alex C. Kwan
Summary: The study showed that psilocybin can induce rapid and lasting synaptic rewiring in the cortex, increasing spine size and density. This structural change may have potential implications for long-term integration of experiences and lasting beneficial actions.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giordano Novak Rossi, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Jose Carlos Bouso Saiz, Rafael G. Dos Santos
Summary: There were no serious adverse events related to the administration of psilocybin and LSD. Most adverse events were expected, manageable, and transient. However, safety and tolerability concerns regarding some effects remain.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG SAFETY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ya-Ting Wang, Xiao-Le Wang, Si-Tong Feng, Nai-Hong Chen, Zhen-Zhen Wang, Yi Zhang
Summary: The glutamate system plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder, with dysfunctional glutamatergic neurotransmission closely linked to depression. Novel modulators targeting the glutamate system could offer potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of depression.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(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
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)
Review
Biology
Dominika Psiuk, Emilia Nowak, Krystian Cholewa, Urszula Lopuszanska, Marzena Samardakiewicz
Summary: The review summarizes the current knowledge on the safety and efficacy of using psychedelic substances to treat depression. Some psychedelics, especially psilocybin, have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and have comparable efficacy to escitalopram.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Ting Wang, Ning-Ning Zhang, Ling-Jie Liu, Hong Jiang, Die Hu, Zhen-Zhen Wang, Nai-Hong Chen, Yi Zhang
Summary: This review aims to explore the convergent downstream pathways of ketamine and rapastinel in order to drive the development of next-generation rapid-acting antidepressants. The findings reveal that ketamine and rapastinel exert antidepressant effects through the BDNF and mTORC1 pathways, contributing to synaptic plasticity.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Samane Jahanabadi, Shayan Amiri, Mehdi Karkeh-abadi, Ali Razmi
Summary: Natural psychedelic compounds are being recognized as potential new therapeutics in psychiatry. This review focuses on the neurobiological therapeutic effects of natural psychedelics and how different neurotransmission systems mediate their effects. It also discusses current therapeutic strategies for depression and the novel mechanism of action of natural psychedelics in depression treatment. The specific compounds discussed include N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), reversible type A monoamine oxidase inhibitors, mescaline-containing cacti, psilocybin/psilocin-containing mushrooms, ibogaine, muscimol extracted from Amanita spp. mushrooms, and ibotenic acid.
Article
Neurosciences
James Glazer, Conor H. Murray, Robin Nusslock, Royce Lee, Harriet de Wit
Summary: Renewed interest in classic psychedelics as treatments for psychiatric disorders warrants a deeper understanding of their neural mechanisms. This study found that low doses of LSD increased reward-related brain activity, which may have important implications for the treatment of depressive disorders.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rafael Guimaraes dos Santos, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Glen Baker, Serdar Dursun
Summary: Major depressive disorder is a prevalent mental health disorder worldwide, with current drug treatments showing limited efficacy and unwanted side effects. Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and ayahuasca have shown promising fast-acting antidepressant effects through their agonism at serotonin receptors, leading to increased interest in exploring their potential benefits for MDD.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
David Bender, David J. Hellerstein
Summary: A reassessment of the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs has led to major clinical trials and legislative efforts. Recent studies support the hypothesis that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can alleviate symptoms of psychiatric conditions without serious adverse events. However, limitations in study design need to be addressed.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
