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Sustained effects of single doses of classical psychedelics in humans.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
January 1, 2023
Gitte M Knudsen
Journal ArticleReviewResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to summarize current knowledge on the long-term effects of psychedelics, including Ayahuasca, on neural plasticity and mental health outcomes.

Results Summary

The study highlights that psychedelics, including Ayahuasca, produce long-lasting effects on personality (e.g., increased openness) and depressive symptoms, supported by behavioral, biochemical, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological data. These effects are attributed to neural plasticity.

Population

Healthy individuals and those with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
serotonergic classical psychedelics
increase
emotional state
healthy people and in those with neuropsychiatric disorders
-
increase the emotional state
#1
psilocybin
decrease
anxiety and depression
-
-
has shown great potential for treatment
#2
psychedelics
increase
personality
-
-
intake of just a single psychedelic dose is associated with long-lasting effects
#3
psychedelics
decrease
depressive symptoms
-
-
intake of just a single psychedelic dose is associated with long-lasting effects
#4
Abstract

The serotonergic classical psychedelics include compounds that primarily activate the brain's serotonin 2 A receptor (5-HT2AR), such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT (ayahuasca). The acute effects of these compounds are well-known as are their ability to increase the emotional state both in healthy people and in those with neuropsychiatric disorders. In particular psilocybin, the psychoactive constituent in "magic mushrooms", has shown great potential for treatment of anxiety and depression. A unique and compelling feature of psychedelics is that intake of just a single psychedelic dose is associated with long-lasting effects. This includes effects on personality, e.g., higher openness, and amelioration of depressive symptoms. This review focuses on these stunning effects and summarizes our current knowledge on which behavioral, biochemical, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological data support that the intriguing effects of psychedelics on the human brain and mind are based on neural plasticity. The review also points to so far understudied areas and suggests research questions to be addressed in future studies which potentially can help to understand the intriguing long-term effects after intake of a single (or a few) psychedelic doses.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansHallucinogensPsilocybinBrainAnxiety DisordersPersonality
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations28
Citations/Year14.0
Relative Citation Ratio7.63
NIH Percentile96.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.92
Normalized Score0.69
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