Sustained effects of single doses of classical psychedelics in humans.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.