Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm

DE Nichols; MW Johnson; CD Nichols

doi:10.1002/cpt.557

journal article Dec 26, 2016

Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm

DE Nichols MW Johnson CD Nichols

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Vol. 101 No. 2 pp. 209-219 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/cpt.557

Abstract

Scientific interest in serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD; 5‐HT2A receptor agonists) has dramatically increased within the last decade. Clinical studies administering psychedelics with psychotherapy have shown preliminary evidence of robust efficacy in treating anxiety and depression, as well as addiction to tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, recent research has suggested that these compounds have potential efficacy against inflammatory diseases through novel mechanisms, with potential advantages over existing antiinflammatory agents. We propose that psychedelics exert therapeutic effects for psychiatric disorders by acutely destabilizing local brain network hubs and global network connectivity via amplification of neuronal avalanches, providing the occasion for brain network “resetting” after the acute effects have resolved. Antiinflammatory effects may hold promise for efficacy in treatment of inflammation‐related nonpsychiatric as well as potentially for psychiatric disorders. Serotonergic psychedelics operate through unique mechanisms that show promising effects for a variety of intractable, debilitating, and lethal disorders, and should be rigorously researched.

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Metrics

282

Citations

75

References

Details

Published: Dec 26, 2016
Vol/Issue: 101(2)
Pages: 209-219
License: View

Authors

D

DE Nichols

Eshelman School of Pharmacy University of North Carolina Chapel Hill North Carolina USA

M

MW Johnson

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA

C

CD Nichols

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans Louisiana USA

Cite This Article

DE Nichols, MW Johnson, CD Nichols (2016). Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 101(2), 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.557

Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm

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