Psychedelic drugs like LSD powerfully alter consciousness and promote neural plasticity, but drug tolerance occurs rapidly following the first dose. Although the mechanisms that underlie psychedelic tolerance may overlap with those that confer a therapeutic effect, until recently these mechanisms were unknown.
A recent study found that Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5-HT2AR gene may impact the effects of clinically relevant psychedelics. This research implies that patients carrying certain polymorphisms may respond differentially to psychedelic-assisted interventions, an important consideration for the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD have been investigated for their anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) potential in people with end-of-life anxiety associated with severe illness, but the anxiolytic effects of LSD-assisted therapy had not yet been assessed in patients with anxiety disorders without life-threatening illness.
Despite excessive fear surrounding anecdotal reports of psychedelics inducing suicidal behaviors dating back to the 1950s, the current scientific landscape suggests potential therapeutic utility.
What is known about the divergent roles of the microscopic targets within the cardiovascular system and the cardiac risks versus benefits of psychedelics?
Psilocybin demonstrated preliminary efficacy for alcohol use disorder in a recent randomized clinical trial. The mechanism may lie in its interaction with glutamate receptors in the reward pathway of the brain.
Dr. Alex Kwan shares his insight on the field of preclinical psychedelic research and where he thinks things are headed in the future - in his lab, in drug discovery, and beyond.
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