#psychedelictherapy — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #psychedelictherapy, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: July 18, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal how LSD desynchronizes local neural activity to alter consciousness
A new analysis of brain imaging data reveals that lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD, reduces the synchronization of local brain activity to produce its mind-altering effects. Published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, the research suggests the hallucinogenic drug interacts with a wider array of brain receptors than previously assumed. These insights help map the biological mechanisms underlying altered states of consciousness and could inform future therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
Over the past decade, medical researchers have renewed their focus on classic psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for psychiatric conditions. Compounds like LSD and psilocybin produce profound changes in perception, mood, and thought. Researchers largely attribute these effects to how the chemical binds to a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain. But the drug structurally mimics several other chemical messengers, including dopamine and different subtypes of serotonin.
Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, a researcher at the University of Pavia, and Livio Tarchi of the University of Florence led the current investigation. They aimed to fill a gap in current neuroimaging literature. Most brain scans of people on psychedelics look at large-scale, long-distance communication between widespread brain networks. Few studies have examined what happens to the tiny, localized clusters of brain cells when someone is under the influence of LSD.
The research team focused on two specific metrics that measure the resting state of the brain. The first metric captures the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. This assesses the power of slow, spontaneous brain waves in a very localized area. When a person is resting, their brain usually produces stable, low-frequency rhythms. A drop in this amplitude means the brain activity is becoming noisier, faster, and more desynchronized.
The second metric evaluates regional homogeneity. This assesses how well a tiny patch of brain tissue synchronizes its electrical activity with its immediate neighboring cells. High regional homogeneity indicates that a small cluster of neurons is firing together in unison. A drop in regional homogeneity suggests that local neurons are operating independently of one another.
To explain why this matters, scientists point to the entropic brain hypothesis. Entropy is a physics concept related to disorder and randomness. In neuroscience, higher entropy means a richer, less predictable pattern of brain states. The entropic brain hypothesis proposes that psychedelics push the brain into a state of higher entropy, increasing disorder in a way that allows for more flexible and dynamic thought processes.
The investigators utilized an open-access database containing the brain scans of 15 healthy adults. Because it involved fewer than 50 participants, this was a small study. During the original data collection, each participant underwent two brain scanning sessions held at least two weeks apart. On one day, they received an intravenous saline placebo. On the other day, they received a moderate, hallucinogenic dose of LSD.
The scanning took place roughly an hour after the drug was administered, capturing the peak of the psychedelic experience. The participants rested inside the scanner with their eyes closed. The scanning device tracked changes in blood flow to map neural activity. La-Torraca-Vittori, Tarchi, and their colleagues computed the two localized metrics for both the placebo and the LSD states. The researchers then overlaid these results onto established brain maps showing the typical distribution of various chemical receptors.
The analysis revealed widespread reductions in both the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity when participants were under the influence of LSD. These drops were particularly pronounced in the visual and somatosensory cortices, the brain areas that process sight and incoming touch. The researchers noted that this local fragmentation forces the brain to abandon its normal hierarchical processing setup.
Normally, the human brain operates in a strict functional hierarchy. Sensory regions process basic inputs and then send that data up the chain to associative regions, which interpret the information. Under LSD, this structured hierarchy flattens. Instead of local clusters processing sensory information in specialized silos, the brain integrates information broadly across the entire cortex, blending visual and physical sensations.
The two metrics also highlighted distinct changes in other brain regions. The low-frequency fluctuation metric dropped heavily in areas associated with the default mode network. This network is a group of brain areas active during passive rest, daydreaming, and self-reflection. Disruptions in this network are strongly associated with the breakdown of the conscious self commonly reported by users of psychedelics.
At the same time, regional homogeneity decreased notably in deep subcortical regions like the thalamus and amygdala. These structures act as central hubs for sensory relay and emotional processing. When local synchronization drops in these relay centers, it likely changes how sensory information gets routed to the rest of the brain.
When linking these functional changes to brain chemistry, the team found robust correlations that expanded beyond the primary target of LSD. As expected, some localization related to the primary 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Yet the drops in both brain metrics consistently mirrored the distribution patterns of dopamine D2 receptors and an alternative serotonin receptor known as 5-HT1A.
A receptor is a protein structure on the surface of a cell that receives chemical signals. When a chemical locks into a receptor, it triggers a biological response inside the cell. Brain areas with fewer of these specific dopamine and serotonin receptors experienced the greatest decreases in local synchronization and low-frequency rhythms under LSD.
This alignment dictates that LSD initiates a cascade of neurochemical events spanning multiple messenger systems. The authors suggest that regions enriched with certain dopamine and serotonin receptors might actually be shielded from the desynchronizing effects of the drug. Alternatively, the drug might indirectly activate these adjacent pathways, leading to the varied sensory and emotional shifts that characterize the experience.
While the data offers new perspectives on the physical mechanics of psychedelics, the researchers acknowledged several limitations. The analysis relied on a small sample size, requiring replication in broader populations to ensure the ultimate reliability of the findings. The team also used standardized maps of receptor density from a general population rather than maps of the actual participants’ brains, which limits the precision of the chemical correlations.
In addition, the resting scans analyzed in this project took place after a music-listening session. The researchers caution that the lingering emotional or neurological effects of listening to music could have shaped the resting state data independently of the chemical infusion. A slight difference in head motion between the placebo and LSD groups remained even after data filtering, leaving open the possibility of minor scanning artifacts.
Future investigations will likely compare these localized measures with other brain monitoring technologies. By mapping both the physical location and the precise timing of these neural changes, scientists hope to fully decode how altered brain chemistry reshapes the human mind. The exploration of localized dynamics offers a key stepping stone toward developing safe, targeted psychedelic therapies in the future.
The study, “Knocking at the Doors of Perception: Relating LSD Effects on Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Regional Homogeneity to Receptor Densities in fMRI,” was authored by Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, Livio Tarchi, Elisa Arrigo, Stefano Lanterna, Eleonora Tosi, Arne Doose, Fulvia Palesi, Doris Pischedda, Valdo Ricca, Paolo Fusar-Poli, and Stefano Damiani.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #LSD BrainImaging #PsychedelicResearch #Neuroscience #BrainConnectivity #LowFrequencyFluctuations #RegionalHomogeneity #5HT2A #DopamineD2 #ConsciousnessAlteration #PsychedelicTherapy
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DATE: July 18, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal how LSD desynchronizes local neural activity to alter consciousness
A new analysis of brain imaging data reveals that lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD, reduces the synchronization of local brain activity to produce its mind-altering effects. Published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, the research suggests the hallucinogenic drug interacts with a wider array of brain receptors than previously assumed. These insights help map the biological mechanisms underlying altered states of consciousness and could inform future therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
Over the past decade, medical researchers have renewed their focus on classic psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for psychiatric conditions. Compounds like LSD and psilocybin produce profound changes in perception, mood, and thought. Researchers largely attribute these effects to how the chemical binds to a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain. But the drug structurally mimics several other chemical messengers, including dopamine and different subtypes of serotonin.
Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, a researcher at the University of Pavia, and Livio Tarchi of the University of Florence led the current investigation. They aimed to fill a gap in current neuroimaging literature. Most brain scans of people on psychedelics look at large-scale, long-distance communication between widespread brain networks. Few studies have examined what happens to the tiny, localized clusters of brain cells when someone is under the influence of LSD.
The research team focused on two specific metrics that measure the resting state of the brain. The first metric captures the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. This assesses the power of slow, spontaneous brain waves in a very localized area. When a person is resting, their brain usually produces stable, low-frequency rhythms. A drop in this amplitude means the brain activity is becoming noisier, faster, and more desynchronized.
The second metric evaluates regional homogeneity. This assesses how well a tiny patch of brain tissue synchronizes its electrical activity with its immediate neighboring cells. High regional homogeneity indicates that a small cluster of neurons is firing together in unison. A drop in regional homogeneity suggests that local neurons are operating independently of one another.
To explain why this matters, scientists point to the entropic brain hypothesis. Entropy is a physics concept related to disorder and randomness. In neuroscience, higher entropy means a richer, less predictable pattern of brain states. The entropic brain hypothesis proposes that psychedelics push the brain into a state of higher entropy, increasing disorder in a way that allows for more flexible and dynamic thought processes.
The investigators utilized an open-access database containing the brain scans of 15 healthy adults. Because it involved fewer than 50 participants, this was a small study. During the original data collection, each participant underwent two brain scanning sessions held at least two weeks apart. On one day, they received an intravenous saline placebo. On the other day, they received a moderate, hallucinogenic dose of LSD.
The scanning took place roughly an hour after the drug was administered, capturing the peak of the psychedelic experience. The participants rested inside the scanner with their eyes closed. The scanning device tracked changes in blood flow to map neural activity. La-Torraca-Vittori, Tarchi, and their colleagues computed the two localized metrics for both the placebo and the LSD states. The researchers then overlaid these results onto established brain maps showing the typical distribution of various chemical receptors.
The analysis revealed widespread reductions in both the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity when participants were under the influence of LSD. These drops were particularly pronounced in the visual and somatosensory cortices, the brain areas that process sight and incoming touch. The researchers noted that this local fragmentation forces the brain to abandon its normal hierarchical processing setup.
Normally, the human brain operates in a strict functional hierarchy. Sensory regions process basic inputs and then send that data up the chain to associative regions, which interpret the information. Under LSD, this structured hierarchy flattens. Instead of local clusters processing sensory information in specialized silos, the brain integrates information broadly across the entire cortex, blending visual and physical sensations.
The two metrics also highlighted distinct changes in other brain regions. The low-frequency fluctuation metric dropped heavily in areas associated with the default mode network. This network is a group of brain areas active during passive rest, daydreaming, and self-reflection. Disruptions in this network are strongly associated with the breakdown of the conscious self commonly reported by users of psychedelics.
At the same time, regional homogeneity decreased notably in deep subcortical regions like the thalamus and amygdala. These structures act as central hubs for sensory relay and emotional processing. When local synchronization drops in these relay centers, it likely changes how sensory information gets routed to the rest of the brain.
When linking these functional changes to brain chemistry, the team found robust correlations that expanded beyond the primary target of LSD. As expected, some localization related to the primary 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Yet the drops in both brain metrics consistently mirrored the distribution patterns of dopamine D2 receptors and an alternative serotonin receptor known as 5-HT1A.
A receptor is a protein structure on the surface of a cell that receives chemical signals. When a chemical locks into a receptor, it triggers a biological response inside the cell. Brain areas with fewer of these specific dopamine and serotonin receptors experienced the greatest decreases in local synchronization and low-frequency rhythms under LSD.
This alignment dictates that LSD initiates a cascade of neurochemical events spanning multiple messenger systems. The authors suggest that regions enriched with certain dopamine and serotonin receptors might actually be shielded from the desynchronizing effects of the drug. Alternatively, the drug might indirectly activate these adjacent pathways, leading to the varied sensory and emotional shifts that characterize the experience.
While the data offers new perspectives on the physical mechanics of psychedelics, the researchers acknowledged several limitations. The analysis relied on a small sample size, requiring replication in broader populations to ensure the ultimate reliability of the findings. The team also used standardized maps of receptor density from a general population rather than maps of the actual participants’ brains, which limits the precision of the chemical correlations.
In addition, the resting scans analyzed in this project took place after a music-listening session. The researchers caution that the lingering emotional or neurological effects of listening to music could have shaped the resting state data independently of the chemical infusion. A slight difference in head motion between the placebo and LSD groups remained even after data filtering, leaving open the possibility of minor scanning artifacts.
Future investigations will likely compare these localized measures with other brain monitoring technologies. By mapping both the physical location and the precise timing of these neural changes, scientists hope to fully decode how altered brain chemistry reshapes the human mind. The exploration of localized dynamics offers a key stepping stone toward developing safe, targeted psychedelic therapies in the future.
The study, “Knocking at the Doors of Perception: Relating LSD Effects on Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Regional Homogeneity to Receptor Densities in fMRI,” was authored by Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, Livio Tarchi, Elisa Arrigo, Stefano Lanterna, Eleonora Tosi, Arne Doose, Fulvia Palesi, Doris Pischedda, Valdo Ricca, Paolo Fusar-Poli, and Stefano Damiani.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #LSD BrainImaging #PsychedelicResearch #Neuroscience #BrainConnectivity #LowFrequencyFluctuations #RegionalHomogeneity #5HT2A #DopamineD2 #ConsciousnessAlteration #PsychedelicTherapy
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DATE: July 18, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain scans reveal how LSD desynchronizes local neural activity to alter consciousness
A new analysis of brain imaging data reveals that lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD, reduces the synchronization of local brain activity to produce its mind-altering effects. Published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, the research suggests the hallucinogenic drug interacts with a wider array of brain receptors than previously assumed. These insights help map the biological mechanisms underlying altered states of consciousness and could inform future therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
Over the past decade, medical researchers have renewed their focus on classic psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for psychiatric conditions. Compounds like LSD and psilocybin produce profound changes in perception, mood, and thought. Researchers largely attribute these effects to how the chemical binds to a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain. But the drug structurally mimics several other chemical messengers, including dopamine and different subtypes of serotonin.
Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, a researcher at the University of Pavia, and Livio Tarchi of the University of Florence led the current investigation. They aimed to fill a gap in current neuroimaging literature. Most brain scans of people on psychedelics look at large-scale, long-distance communication between widespread brain networks. Few studies have examined what happens to the tiny, localized clusters of brain cells when someone is under the influence of LSD.
The research team focused on two specific metrics that measure the resting state of the brain. The first metric captures the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. This assesses the power of slow, spontaneous brain waves in a very localized area. When a person is resting, their brain usually produces stable, low-frequency rhythms. A drop in this amplitude means the brain activity is becoming noisier, faster, and more desynchronized.
The second metric evaluates regional homogeneity. This assesses how well a tiny patch of brain tissue synchronizes its electrical activity with its immediate neighboring cells. High regional homogeneity indicates that a small cluster of neurons is firing together in unison. A drop in regional homogeneity suggests that local neurons are operating independently of one another.
To explain why this matters, scientists point to the entropic brain hypothesis. Entropy is a physics concept related to disorder and randomness. In neuroscience, higher entropy means a richer, less predictable pattern of brain states. The entropic brain hypothesis proposes that psychedelics push the brain into a state of higher entropy, increasing disorder in a way that allows for more flexible and dynamic thought processes.
The investigators utilized an open-access database containing the brain scans of 15 healthy adults. Because it involved fewer than 50 participants, this was a small study. During the original data collection, each participant underwent two brain scanning sessions held at least two weeks apart. On one day, they received an intravenous saline placebo. On the other day, they received a moderate, hallucinogenic dose of LSD.
The scanning took place roughly an hour after the drug was administered, capturing the peak of the psychedelic experience. The participants rested inside the scanner with their eyes closed. The scanning device tracked changes in blood flow to map neural activity. La-Torraca-Vittori, Tarchi, and their colleagues computed the two localized metrics for both the placebo and the LSD states. The researchers then overlaid these results onto established brain maps showing the typical distribution of various chemical receptors.
The analysis revealed widespread reductions in both the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity when participants were under the influence of LSD. These drops were particularly pronounced in the visual and somatosensory cortices, the brain areas that process sight and incoming touch. The researchers noted that this local fragmentation forces the brain to abandon its normal hierarchical processing setup.
Normally, the human brain operates in a strict functional hierarchy. Sensory regions process basic inputs and then send that data up the chain to associative regions, which interpret the information. Under LSD, this structured hierarchy flattens. Instead of local clusters processing sensory information in specialized silos, the brain integrates information broadly across the entire cortex, blending visual and physical sensations.
The two metrics also highlighted distinct changes in other brain regions. The low-frequency fluctuation metric dropped heavily in areas associated with the default mode network. This network is a group of brain areas active during passive rest, daydreaming, and self-reflection. Disruptions in this network are strongly associated with the breakdown of the conscious self commonly reported by users of psychedelics.
At the same time, regional homogeneity decreased notably in deep subcortical regions like the thalamus and amygdala. These structures act as central hubs for sensory relay and emotional processing. When local synchronization drops in these relay centers, it likely changes how sensory information gets routed to the rest of the brain.
When linking these functional changes to brain chemistry, the team found robust correlations that expanded beyond the primary target of LSD. As expected, some localization related to the primary 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Yet the drops in both brain metrics consistently mirrored the distribution patterns of dopamine D2 receptors and an alternative serotonin receptor known as 5-HT1A.
A receptor is a protein structure on the surface of a cell that receives chemical signals. When a chemical locks into a receptor, it triggers a biological response inside the cell. Brain areas with fewer of these specific dopamine and serotonin receptors experienced the greatest decreases in local synchronization and low-frequency rhythms under LSD.
This alignment dictates that LSD initiates a cascade of neurochemical events spanning multiple messenger systems. The authors suggest that regions enriched with certain dopamine and serotonin receptors might actually be shielded from the desynchronizing effects of the drug. Alternatively, the drug might indirectly activate these adjacent pathways, leading to the varied sensory and emotional shifts that characterize the experience.
While the data offers new perspectives on the physical mechanics of psychedelics, the researchers acknowledged several limitations. The analysis relied on a small sample size, requiring replication in broader populations to ensure the ultimate reliability of the findings. The team also used standardized maps of receptor density from a general population rather than maps of the actual participants’ brains, which limits the precision of the chemical correlations.
In addition, the resting scans analyzed in this project took place after a music-listening session. The researchers caution that the lingering emotional or neurological effects of listening to music could have shaped the resting state data independently of the chemical infusion. A slight difference in head motion between the placebo and LSD groups remained even after data filtering, leaving open the possibility of minor scanning artifacts.
Future investigations will likely compare these localized measures with other brain monitoring technologies. By mapping both the physical location and the precise timing of these neural changes, scientists hope to fully decode how altered brain chemistry reshapes the human mind. The exploration of localized dynamics offers a key stepping stone toward developing safe, targeted psychedelic therapies in the future.
The study, “Knocking at the Doors of Perception: Relating LSD Effects on Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Regional Homogeneity to Receptor Densities in fMRI,” was authored by Paolo La-Torraca-Vittori, Livio Tarchi, Elisa Arrigo, Stefano Lanterna, Eleonora Tosi, Arne Doose, Fulvia Palesi, Doris Pischedda, Valdo Ricca, Paolo Fusar-Poli, and Stefano Damiani.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #LSD BrainImaging #PsychedelicResearch #Neuroscience #BrainConnectivity #LowFrequencyFluctuations #RegionalHomogeneity #5HT2A #DopamineD2 #ConsciousnessAlteration #PsychedelicTherapy
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DATE: July 9, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Luvesilocin: This new psychedelic drug could change how we treat postpartum depression
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
But a new treatment moving through the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials process may be key to treating, or even curing, depression and anxiety in postpartum people. It is a newly named psychedelic, luvesilocin. It functions like psilocin, the psychoactive chemical within psilocybin mushrooms. It may be able to positively affect the unique hormonal shifts, brain changes and disconnection that can lead to these conditions like no existing treatments.
In prior studies of psilocybin, researchers have observed rapid improvement in symptoms – and sometimes a cure after a single dose – of conditions such as major depression and PTSD. In a recent FDA Phase 2 study of luvesilocin, we found similar improvements in postpartum depression.
I was the site investigator for the University of Colorado, one of 35 participating sites across the U.S. The study enrolled 84 postpartum women who were within a year of giving birth and ended in May 2025.
I have spent my career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist contemplating how the prenatal experience shapes lifetime health. I have also followed the psychedelic data closely. I’ve been eager to find evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum applications of psychedelics, given these drugs’ promise in treating other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety’s impact on moms and babies
One drug that has been studied and enhanced our understanding of the way psychedelics work is MDMA, which is commonly known as ecstasy and causes a euphoric high.
According to peer-reviewed research published by Bessel van der Kolk in 2024, MDMA can lead to improvements in individuals being able to identify, describe and feel their feelings. Other improvements resulting from MDMA assisted therapy include more self-compassion and a broader desire and capacity for connection with others.
Connection, especially the earliest one between a mother and infant, plays one of the most significant roles in providing the foundation for humans to grow and flourish. Postpartum depression is often defined by disconnection and impaired bonding.
Children born to mothers with untreated depression and anxiety have a higher risk of falling behind on early developmental milestones. They may also have behavioral concerns, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, and are more likely to withdraw from social activities. They tend to report somatic complaints, such as body aches and pains in early childhood.
Children of mothers who had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are also at risk of these same conditions as they enter their teenage years. They have nearly twice the risk of these conditions compared to teenagers whose mothers did not have untreated depression and anxiety. This pattern means depression and anxiety can become a multigenerational cycle. But this cycle can be interrupted with adequate treatment and support.
Increased levels of the hormone oxytocin were found by researchers in the blood of depression study participants who were given MDMA, LSD and mescaline, which are all psychedelic drugs. The increase in oxytocin led to more feelings of trust, empathy and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is released from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. It plays a critical role in birth and infant feeding. It also aids in the wiring and formation of human social brains.
Oxytocin is important in maternal bonding with an infant. Conversely, early childhood stressors, such as a mother suffering from mental illness, reduces oxytocin levels in children. This may be a contributor to adverse mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
In depression studies that involved men, psilocybin did not have as great of an impact as other psychedelic medications on oxytocin production. But there is reason to believe that oxytocin may play a greater role in postpartum patients because it’s levels are higher during birth and lactation than in other phases of life.
FDA study of psilocybin-like medication
In February 2026, the FDA granted luvesilocin breakthrough therapy status. This status is used to speed up the development of promising new medications for serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug received this status because our research found meaningful and rapid reductions in depression scores in those who received the treatment.
In the Phase 2 study, 77% of postpartum women who received a psychedelic dose, 30mg of luvesilocin, had significant improvement in their postpartum depression. Overall, 71% had no symptoms of postpartum depression seven days after the psychedelic session.
The purpose of an FDA Phase 2 study is to determine the effectiveness of an experimental medication on a particular disease or condition. In this case, the study is evaluating luvesilocin’s effect on postpartum depression scores and symptoms. In the group that received the placebo, a microdose of the drug, more than half experienced an improvement in their symptoms, but most still had some symptoms after seven days.
These are much higher response and remission rates than trials of the existing medications used for postpartum depression treatment. Existing treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, and a medication called zuranolone. The latter is the only medication to have specific FDA approval for postpartum depression.
Access to psychedelic treatments
In 2023, the Colorado legislature passed the Natural Medicine Health Act. It offers a legal pathway for people to receive natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, in therapeutic settings. The first natural medicine healing centers opened in early 2026. Some locations advertise treatments for everything from postpartum depression to birth trauma.
Oregon has a similar state-regulated program. Numerous other states have different pathways toward legal psychedelic-assisted therapies and decriminalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Nationally, there was a recent federal executive order to accelerate action on treating serious mental illnesses. The order included mention of the use of psychedelic therapies.
Looking forward
By the end of 2026, Phase 3 of the luvesilocin trial for postpartum depression is slated to begin. Phase 3 trials are conducted to confirm the effectiveness and further evaluate the overall risks and benefits of a new medication. Each phase is an important regulatory step before a medication can be approved and available in clinical settings.
In Phase 3, 200 participants with postpartum depression will be recruited across participating sites. While I’m optimistic about the potential of this research, I believe its value can be established only through rigorous blinded clinical trials, objective data analysis, and conclusions and approval that are fully supported by the evidence.
Phase 3 will also include participants who are still breastfeeding. A study of luvesilocin during lactation in healthy volunteers demonstrated very low levels passed from the mother into breast milk. Thus, this medication would be considered safe for breastfeeding.
Luvesilocin may become a game-changing postpartum depression treatment medication in just a couple more years. On a much larger scale, psychedelic medicine could elevate our collective well-being and happiness, replacing systemic cycles of depression, anxiety, trauma and isolation with connectedness and compassion. These drugs could literally rewire our approach to trauma, addiction and how we relate to one another.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Luvesilocin #PostpartumDepression #PsychedelicTherapy #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumWellbeing #OxytocinConnection #MDMA #Psilocybin #MentalHealthInnovation #FDAClinicalTrials
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DATE: July 9, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Luvesilocin: This new psychedelic drug could change how we treat postpartum depression
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
But a new treatment moving through the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials process may be key to treating, or even curing, depression and anxiety in postpartum people. It is a newly named psychedelic, luvesilocin. It functions like psilocin, the psychoactive chemical within psilocybin mushrooms. It may be able to positively affect the unique hormonal shifts, brain changes and disconnection that can lead to these conditions like no existing treatments.
In prior studies of psilocybin, researchers have observed rapid improvement in symptoms – and sometimes a cure after a single dose – of conditions such as major depression and PTSD. In a recent FDA Phase 2 study of luvesilocin, we found similar improvements in postpartum depression.
I was the site investigator for the University of Colorado, one of 35 participating sites across the U.S. The study enrolled 84 postpartum women who were within a year of giving birth and ended in May 2025.
I have spent my career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist contemplating how the prenatal experience shapes lifetime health. I have also followed the psychedelic data closely. I’ve been eager to find evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum applications of psychedelics, given these drugs’ promise in treating other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety’s impact on moms and babies
One drug that has been studied and enhanced our understanding of the way psychedelics work is MDMA, which is commonly known as ecstasy and causes a euphoric high.
According to peer-reviewed research published by Bessel van der Kolk in 2024, MDMA can lead to improvements in individuals being able to identify, describe and feel their feelings. Other improvements resulting from MDMA assisted therapy include more self-compassion and a broader desire and capacity for connection with others.
Connection, especially the earliest one between a mother and infant, plays one of the most significant roles in providing the foundation for humans to grow and flourish. Postpartum depression is often defined by disconnection and impaired bonding.
Children born to mothers with untreated depression and anxiety have a higher risk of falling behind on early developmental milestones. They may also have behavioral concerns, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, and are more likely to withdraw from social activities. They tend to report somatic complaints, such as body aches and pains in early childhood.
Children of mothers who had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are also at risk of these same conditions as they enter their teenage years. They have nearly twice the risk of these conditions compared to teenagers whose mothers did not have untreated depression and anxiety. This pattern means depression and anxiety can become a multigenerational cycle. But this cycle can be interrupted with adequate treatment and support.
Increased levels of the hormone oxytocin were found by researchers in the blood of depression study participants who were given MDMA, LSD and mescaline, which are all psychedelic drugs. The increase in oxytocin led to more feelings of trust, empathy and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is released from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. It plays a critical role in birth and infant feeding. It also aids in the wiring and formation of human social brains.
Oxytocin is important in maternal bonding with an infant. Conversely, early childhood stressors, such as a mother suffering from mental illness, reduces oxytocin levels in children. This may be a contributor to adverse mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
In depression studies that involved men, psilocybin did not have as great of an impact as other psychedelic medications on oxytocin production. But there is reason to believe that oxytocin may play a greater role in postpartum patients because it’s levels are higher during birth and lactation than in other phases of life.
FDA study of psilocybin-like medication
In February 2026, the FDA granted luvesilocin breakthrough therapy status. This status is used to speed up the development of promising new medications for serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug received this status because our research found meaningful and rapid reductions in depression scores in those who received the treatment.
In the Phase 2 study, 77% of postpartum women who received a psychedelic dose, 30mg of luvesilocin, had significant improvement in their postpartum depression. Overall, 71% had no symptoms of postpartum depression seven days after the psychedelic session.
The purpose of an FDA Phase 2 study is to determine the effectiveness of an experimental medication on a particular disease or condition. In this case, the study is evaluating luvesilocin’s effect on postpartum depression scores and symptoms. In the group that received the placebo, a microdose of the drug, more than half experienced an improvement in their symptoms, but most still had some symptoms after seven days.
These are much higher response and remission rates than trials of the existing medications used for postpartum depression treatment. Existing treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, and a medication called zuranolone. The latter is the only medication to have specific FDA approval for postpartum depression.
Access to psychedelic treatments
In 2023, the Colorado legislature passed the Natural Medicine Health Act. It offers a legal pathway for people to receive natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, in therapeutic settings. The first natural medicine healing centers opened in early 2026. Some locations advertise treatments for everything from postpartum depression to birth trauma.
Oregon has a similar state-regulated program. Numerous other states have different pathways toward legal psychedelic-assisted therapies and decriminalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Nationally, there was a recent federal executive order to accelerate action on treating serious mental illnesses. The order included mention of the use of psychedelic therapies.
Looking forward
By the end of 2026, Phase 3 of the luvesilocin trial for postpartum depression is slated to begin. Phase 3 trials are conducted to confirm the effectiveness and further evaluate the overall risks and benefits of a new medication. Each phase is an important regulatory step before a medication can be approved and available in clinical settings.
In Phase 3, 200 participants with postpartum depression will be recruited across participating sites. While I’m optimistic about the potential of this research, I believe its value can be established only through rigorous blinded clinical trials, objective data analysis, and conclusions and approval that are fully supported by the evidence.
Phase 3 will also include participants who are still breastfeeding. A study of luvesilocin during lactation in healthy volunteers demonstrated very low levels passed from the mother into breast milk. Thus, this medication would be considered safe for breastfeeding.
Luvesilocin may become a game-changing postpartum depression treatment medication in just a couple more years. On a much larger scale, psychedelic medicine could elevate our collective well-being and happiness, replacing systemic cycles of depression, anxiety, trauma and isolation with connectedness and compassion. These drugs could literally rewire our approach to trauma, addiction and how we relate to one another.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Luvesilocin #PostpartumDepression #PsychedelicTherapy #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumWellbeing #OxytocinConnection #MDMA #Psilocybin #MentalHealthInnovation #FDAClinicalTrials
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DATE: July 9, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Luvesilocin: This new psychedelic drug could change how we treat postpartum depression
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
But a new treatment moving through the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials process may be key to treating, or even curing, depression and anxiety in postpartum people. It is a newly named psychedelic, luvesilocin. It functions like psilocin, the psychoactive chemical within psilocybin mushrooms. It may be able to positively affect the unique hormonal shifts, brain changes and disconnection that can lead to these conditions like no existing treatments.
In prior studies of psilocybin, researchers have observed rapid improvement in symptoms – and sometimes a cure after a single dose – of conditions such as major depression and PTSD. In a recent FDA Phase 2 study of luvesilocin, we found similar improvements in postpartum depression.
I was the site investigator for the University of Colorado, one of 35 participating sites across the U.S. The study enrolled 84 postpartum women who were within a year of giving birth and ended in May 2025.
I have spent my career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist contemplating how the prenatal experience shapes lifetime health. I have also followed the psychedelic data closely. I’ve been eager to find evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum applications of psychedelics, given these drugs’ promise in treating other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety’s impact on moms and babies
One drug that has been studied and enhanced our understanding of the way psychedelics work is MDMA, which is commonly known as ecstasy and causes a euphoric high.
According to peer-reviewed research published by Bessel van der Kolk in 2024, MDMA can lead to improvements in individuals being able to identify, describe and feel their feelings. Other improvements resulting from MDMA assisted therapy include more self-compassion and a broader desire and capacity for connection with others.
Connection, especially the earliest one between a mother and infant, plays one of the most significant roles in providing the foundation for humans to grow and flourish. Postpartum depression is often defined by disconnection and impaired bonding.
Children born to mothers with untreated depression and anxiety have a higher risk of falling behind on early developmental milestones. They may also have behavioral concerns, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, and are more likely to withdraw from social activities. They tend to report somatic complaints, such as body aches and pains in early childhood.
Children of mothers who had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are also at risk of these same conditions as they enter their teenage years. They have nearly twice the risk of these conditions compared to teenagers whose mothers did not have untreated depression and anxiety. This pattern means depression and anxiety can become a multigenerational cycle. But this cycle can be interrupted with adequate treatment and support.
Increased levels of the hormone oxytocin were found by researchers in the blood of depression study participants who were given MDMA, LSD and mescaline, which are all psychedelic drugs. The increase in oxytocin led to more feelings of trust, empathy and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is released from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. It plays a critical role in birth and infant feeding. It also aids in the wiring and formation of human social brains.
Oxytocin is important in maternal bonding with an infant. Conversely, early childhood stressors, such as a mother suffering from mental illness, reduces oxytocin levels in children. This may be a contributor to adverse mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
In depression studies that involved men, psilocybin did not have as great of an impact as other psychedelic medications on oxytocin production. But there is reason to believe that oxytocin may play a greater role in postpartum patients because it’s levels are higher during birth and lactation than in other phases of life.
FDA study of psilocybin-like medication
In February 2026, the FDA granted luvesilocin breakthrough therapy status. This status is used to speed up the development of promising new medications for serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug received this status because our research found meaningful and rapid reductions in depression scores in those who received the treatment.
In the Phase 2 study, 77% of postpartum women who received a psychedelic dose, 30mg of luvesilocin, had significant improvement in their postpartum depression. Overall, 71% had no symptoms of postpartum depression seven days after the psychedelic session.
The purpose of an FDA Phase 2 study is to determine the effectiveness of an experimental medication on a particular disease or condition. In this case, the study is evaluating luvesilocin’s effect on postpartum depression scores and symptoms. In the group that received the placebo, a microdose of the drug, more than half experienced an improvement in their symptoms, but most still had some symptoms after seven days.
These are much higher response and remission rates than trials of the existing medications used for postpartum depression treatment. Existing treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, and a medication called zuranolone. The latter is the only medication to have specific FDA approval for postpartum depression.
Access to psychedelic treatments
In 2023, the Colorado legislature passed the Natural Medicine Health Act. It offers a legal pathway for people to receive natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, in therapeutic settings. The first natural medicine healing centers opened in early 2026. Some locations advertise treatments for everything from postpartum depression to birth trauma.
Oregon has a similar state-regulated program. Numerous other states have different pathways toward legal psychedelic-assisted therapies and decriminalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Nationally, there was a recent federal executive order to accelerate action on treating serious mental illnesses. The order included mention of the use of psychedelic therapies.
Looking forward
By the end of 2026, Phase 3 of the luvesilocin trial for postpartum depression is slated to begin. Phase 3 trials are conducted to confirm the effectiveness and further evaluate the overall risks and benefits of a new medication. Each phase is an important regulatory step before a medication can be approved and available in clinical settings.
In Phase 3, 200 participants with postpartum depression will be recruited across participating sites. While I’m optimistic about the potential of this research, I believe its value can be established only through rigorous blinded clinical trials, objective data analysis, and conclusions and approval that are fully supported by the evidence.
Phase 3 will also include participants who are still breastfeeding. A study of luvesilocin during lactation in healthy volunteers demonstrated very low levels passed from the mother into breast milk. Thus, this medication would be considered safe for breastfeeding.
Luvesilocin may become a game-changing postpartum depression treatment medication in just a couple more years. On a much larger scale, psychedelic medicine could elevate our collective well-being and happiness, replacing systemic cycles of depression, anxiety, trauma and isolation with connectedness and compassion. These drugs could literally rewire our approach to trauma, addiction and how we relate to one another.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Luvesilocin #PostpartumDepression #PsychedelicTherapy #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumWellbeing #OxytocinConnection #MDMA #Psilocybin #MentalHealthInnovation #FDAClinicalTrials
-
DATE: July 2, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psilocybin improves sleep quality in patients with chronic cluster headaches
New research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that psilocybin may improve subjective sleep quality in people suffering from chronic cluster headaches. The study provides evidence that this improvement in sleep is proportional to a reduction in headache attacks and tends to be associated with slight differences in the physical structure of the brain. These findings offer a new perspective on how psychedelic compounds might interact with sleep and brain health in patients with severe pain conditions.
Sleep serves many essential biological functions, including the regulation of fluid movement and waste removal in the brain. During healthy sleep cycles, the brain undergoes physical changes at a microscopic level, such as alterations in the density of nerve cell branches in the gray matter and changes in the fatty insulation called myelin in the white matter.
Gray matter is the tissue in the brain responsible for processing information, while white matter consists of the nerve fibers that connect different brain regions. Scientists believe that sleep is necessary to scale down neural connections made during the day and to allow for the washing away of cellular waste.
Poor sleep can disrupt these maintenance processes, which tends to lead to an unhealthy accumulation of waste products in the brain. Chronic cluster headache is a severe neurological disorder characterized by frequent, intensely painful headaches on one side of the head, often accompanied by symptoms like a runny nose or watery eyes. People with this condition often experience attacks during the night, which severely disrupts their natural rest. Because of this persistent pain, patients often suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, which might alter their brain’s microscopic structure over time.
“Cluster headache attacks most often occur at night, and patients with cluster headache therefore often have poor sleep quality,” said Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix, an MD and doctoral student at the Neurobiology Research Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet.
“Since we have previously found that psilocybin can reduce the number of headache attacks in patients with cluster headache, we wanted to investigate whether sleep quality also improved after psilocybin.”
Brendstrup-Brix added that the research team was curious about the physical effects of these rest disruptions. “We and others have shown that sleep may be involved in regulating the structure of the brain, such as the connections between neurons and the movement of water in the brain,” he said. “In this group of patients, we could explore these relations further.”
Psilocybin is the active hallucinogenic compound found in certain types of mushrooms. Recent scientific interest has focused on its potential to treat various psychiatric and neurological conditions, including cluster headaches. Early observational reports indicate that psilocybin can produce long-lasting reductions in headache frequency. Some animal studies also suggest that psilocybin increases neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections.
Because sleep is critical for brain maintenance and psilocybin may promote structural brain changes, researchers designed a study to examine changes in sleep quality and brain fluid dynamics after psilocybin administration. The researchers recruited eleven patients diagnosed with chronic cluster headache from a headache center in Denmark. This group included five females, with an average age of about forty-nine years, who were experiencing at least four cluster headache attacks per week. As a point of comparison, the authors also included data from twenty-four healthy adults with an average age of roughly thirty-three years.
The healthy participants were drawn from a separate imaging study that used the exact same scanner settings to ensure consistency. The study involved multiple brain scans and sleep assessments. The patients with cluster headaches underwent a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as an MRI. Specifically, the researchers used diffusion-weighted MRI, which tracks the movement of water molecules in the brain to estimate the microscopic structure of brain tissue.
These scans were conducted the day before the first psilocybin dose and one week after the final dose. By tracking water movement, the scientists were able to calculate specific metrics about the brain’s internal environment. They measured the intra-neurite volume fraction, which estimates the amount of water trapped inside nerve cells. They also looked at extra-neurite mean diffusivity, which measures how freely water moves in the spaces outside of the brain cells.
Together, these metrics help paint a picture of structural density and fluid stagnation within the brain tissue. To measure sleep quality, the participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which is a standardized questionnaire that asks individuals to rate their sleep habits and overall restfulness on a numerical scale.
For this study, the questionnaire was adapted to reflect sleep quality over a one-week period. During the intervention phase, the patients received three doses of a synthetic psilocybin formulation, spaced one week apart, with each dose containing 0.14 milligrams of psilocybin per kilogram of body weight.
Before the psilocybin treatment, the patients with chronic cluster headaches reported significantly worse sleep than the healthy group. Specifically, ten out of the eleven patients had substantially impaired sleep quality, compared to only one out of the twenty-four healthy adults. The brain scans at the beginning of the study also revealed structural differences between the two groups. When the researchers analyzed the data together, they found that these baseline differences were primarily driven by variations in the gray matter.
Following the psilocybin intervention, the patients experienced a noticeable reduction in their headache symptoms. On average, the frequency of their cluster headache attacks dropped by fifty percent, equating to about six fewer attacks per week. The patients also saw an average drop of 2.5 points on their sleep questionnaire, representing a twenty-four percent improvement in overall restfulness. This improvement in sleep scores directly mirrored the reduction in weekly headache attacks, suggesting a strong relationship between symptom relief and better rest.
Brendstrup-Brix noted that these improvements were a central outcome of their research. “In our study, we confirm that cluster headache is accompanied by poor sleep, and we find sleep to improve after psilocybin in parallel with an improvement in the number of headache attacks,” he told PsyPost. “We also find indications that both sleep and psilocybin may have effects on the structure of the brain, although these findings were not significant and should be investigated further in larger studies.”
When the researchers looked at the brain scans after the treatment, they did not find statistically significant structural changes across the group as a whole. However, the data revealed an interesting trend in the individual results. Seven out of the eight patients who completed the final scan showed numerical decreases in their white matter intra-neurite volume fraction and extra-neurite mean diffusivity. This suggests a subtle shift in how water moved through the white matter pathways after the psychedelic therapy, possibly hinting at slight changes in myelin content.
The authors also looked for connections between subjective sleep quality and the microscopic structure of the brain. They found borderline significant correlations of moderate strength across both the patients and the healthy adults. This provides evidence that how well a person feels they sleep is partially linked to the physical movement of fluids within their brain tissue. The data suggests that chronic sleep disturbances might lead to a stagnation of interstitial fluid, though the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
While these findings are encouraging, they come with several limitations that require cautious review. The most prominent limitation is the small sample size, as only eight patients completed both the baseline and follow-up brain scans. This small number makes it difficult to draw broad statistical conclusions, and the findings should be viewed as exploratory. The study also lacked a placebo control group, meaning some of the reported improvements could be influenced by the patients’ expectations rather than the drug itself.
Another limitation relates to how sleep was measured. The researchers relied on self-reported questionnaires, which capture a person’s subjective perception of their rest but may not reflect objective sleep architecture. Future research could benefit from using objective monitoring tools, such as polysomnography or wearable tracking devices, to record brain waves and physical movements during the night. Tracking the exact timing of headache attacks could also help scientists determine if psilocybin improves sleep directly or simply reduces the pain that causes nighttime awakenings.
The techniques used to measure brain structure also rely on complex mathematical models to interpret water movement. These models make certain assumptions about brain tissue that may not perfectly capture the biological reality.
Additionally, because sleep improvements were so closely tied to a reduction in headaches, it is difficult to separate the direct effects of psilocybin on the brain from the indirect benefits of experiencing less pain. Future studies with larger numbers of participants are needed to confirm these preliminary observations and further explore how psilocybin influences brain health.
The study, “Effects of psilocybin on sleep quality and brain microstructure in chronic cluster headache,” was authored by Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix, Brice Ozenne, Patrick M. Fisher, Dea S. Stenbæk, Anja S. Petersen, Sophia Armand, Drummond E-Wen. McCulloch, Maja Rou Marstrand-Joergensen, Sara M. Ulv Larsen, Annette Johansen, Rigmor H. Jensen, Gitte M. Knudsen, and Martin K. Madsen.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinSleepStudy #ClusterHeadacheRelief #SleepQualityImprovement #PsychedelicTherapy #NeuroplasticityResearch #BrainMicrostructure #DiffusionMRI #SleepHealth #HeadacheManagement #BrainFluidDynamics
-
DATE: July 2, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psilocybin improves sleep quality in patients with chronic cluster headaches
New research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that psilocybin may improve subjective sleep quality in people suffering from chronic cluster headaches. The study provides evidence that this improvement in sleep is proportional to a reduction in headache attacks and tends to be associated with slight differences in the physical structure of the brain. These findings offer a new perspective on how psychedelic compounds might interact with sleep and brain health in patients with severe pain conditions.
Sleep serves many essential biological functions, including the regulation of fluid movement and waste removal in the brain. During healthy sleep cycles, the brain undergoes physical changes at a microscopic level, such as alterations in the density of nerve cell branches in the gray matter and changes in the fatty insulation called myelin in the white matter.
Gray matter is the tissue in the brain responsible for processing information, while white matter consists of the nerve fibers that connect different brain regions. Scientists believe that sleep is necessary to scale down neural connections made during the day and to allow for the washing away of cellular waste.
Poor sleep can disrupt these maintenance processes, which tends to lead to an unhealthy accumulation of waste products in the brain. Chronic cluster headache is a severe neurological disorder characterized by frequent, intensely painful headaches on one side of the head, often accompanied by symptoms like a runny nose or watery eyes. People with this condition often experience attacks during the night, which severely disrupts their natural rest. Because of this persistent pain, patients often suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, which might alter their brain’s microscopic structure over time.
“Cluster headache attacks most often occur at night, and patients with cluster headache therefore often have poor sleep quality,” said Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix, an MD and doctoral student at the Neurobiology Research Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet.
“Since we have previously found that psilocybin can reduce the number of headache attacks in patients with cluster headache, we wanted to investigate whether sleep quality also improved after psilocybin.”
Brendstrup-Brix added that the research team was curious about the physical effects of these rest disruptions. “We and others have shown that sleep may be involved in regulating the structure of the brain, such as the connections between neurons and the movement of water in the brain,” he said. “In this group of patients, we could explore these relations further.”
Psilocybin is the active hallucinogenic compound found in certain types of mushrooms. Recent scientific interest has focused on its potential to treat various psychiatric and neurological conditions, including cluster headaches. Early observational reports indicate that psilocybin can produce long-lasting reductions in headache frequency. Some animal studies also suggest that psilocybin increases neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections.
Because sleep is critical for brain maintenance and psilocybin may promote structural brain changes, researchers designed a study to examine changes in sleep quality and brain fluid dynamics after psilocybin administration. The researchers recruited eleven patients diagnosed with chronic cluster headache from a headache center in Denmark. This group included five females, with an average age of about forty-nine years, who were experiencing at least four cluster headache attacks per week. As a point of comparison, the authors also included data from twenty-four healthy adults with an average age of roughly thirty-three years.
The healthy participants were drawn from a separate imaging study that used the exact same scanner settings to ensure consistency. The study involved multiple brain scans and sleep assessments. The patients with cluster headaches underwent a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as an MRI. Specifically, the researchers used diffusion-weighted MRI, which tracks the movement of water molecules in the brain to estimate the microscopic structure of brain tissue.
These scans were conducted the day before the first psilocybin dose and one week after the final dose. By tracking water movement, the scientists were able to calculate specific metrics about the brain’s internal environment. They measured the intra-neurite volume fraction, which estimates the amount of water trapped inside nerve cells. They also looked at extra-neurite mean diffusivity, which measures how freely water moves in the spaces outside of the brain cells.
Together, these metrics help paint a picture of structural density and fluid stagnation within the brain tissue. To measure sleep quality, the participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which is a standardized questionnaire that asks individuals to rate their sleep habits and overall restfulness on a numerical scale.
For this study, the questionnaire was adapted to reflect sleep quality over a one-week period. During the intervention phase, the patients received three doses of a synthetic psilocybin formulation, spaced one week apart, with each dose containing 0.14 milligrams of psilocybin per kilogram of body weight.
Before the psilocybin treatment, the patients with chronic cluster headaches reported significantly worse sleep than the healthy group. Specifically, ten out of the eleven patients had substantially impaired sleep quality, compared to only one out of the twenty-four healthy adults. The brain scans at the beginning of the study also revealed structural differences between the two groups. When the researchers analyzed the data together, they found that these baseline differences were primarily driven by variations in the gray matter.
Following the psilocybin intervention, the patients experienced a noticeable reduction in their headache symptoms. On average, the frequency of their cluster headache attacks dropped by fifty percent, equating to about six fewer attacks per week. The patients also saw an average drop of 2.5 points on their sleep questionnaire, representing a twenty-four percent improvement in overall restfulness. This improvement in sleep scores directly mirrored the reduction in weekly headache attacks, suggesting a strong relationship between symptom relief and better rest.
Brendstrup-Brix noted that these improvements were a central outcome of their research. “In our study, we confirm that cluster headache is accompanied by poor sleep, and we find sleep to improve after psilocybin in parallel with an improvement in the number of headache attacks,” he told PsyPost. “We also find indications that both sleep and psilocybin may have effects on the structure of the brain, although these findings were not significant and should be investigated further in larger studies.”
When the researchers looked at the brain scans after the treatment, they did not find statistically significant structural changes across the group as a whole. However, the data revealed an interesting trend in the individual results. Seven out of the eight patients who completed the final scan showed numerical decreases in their white matter intra-neurite volume fraction and extra-neurite mean diffusivity. This suggests a subtle shift in how water moved through the white matter pathways after the psychedelic therapy, possibly hinting at slight changes in myelin content.
The authors also looked for connections between subjective sleep quality and the microscopic structure of the brain. They found borderline significant correlations of moderate strength across both the patients and the healthy adults. This provides evidence that how well a person feels they sleep is partially linked to the physical movement of fluids within their brain tissue. The data suggests that chronic sleep disturbances might lead to a stagnation of interstitial fluid, though the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
While these findings are encouraging, they come with several limitations that require cautious review. The most prominent limitation is the small sample size, as only eight patients completed both the baseline and follow-up brain scans. This small number makes it difficult to draw broad statistical conclusions, and the findings should be viewed as exploratory. The study also lacked a placebo control group, meaning some of the reported improvements could be influenced by the patients’ expectations rather than the drug itself.
Another limitation relates to how sleep was measured. The researchers relied on self-reported questionnaires, which capture a person’s subjective perception of their rest but may not reflect objective sleep architecture. Future research could benefit from using objective monitoring tools, such as polysomnography or wearable tracking devices, to record brain waves and physical movements during the night. Tracking the exact timing of headache attacks could also help scientists determine if psilocybin improves sleep directly or simply reduces the pain that causes nighttime awakenings.
The techniques used to measure brain structure also rely on complex mathematical models to interpret water movement. These models make certain assumptions about brain tissue that may not perfectly capture the biological reality.
Additionally, because sleep improvements were so closely tied to a reduction in headaches, it is difficult to separate the direct effects of psilocybin on the brain from the indirect benefits of experiencing less pain. Future studies with larger numbers of participants are needed to confirm these preliminary observations and further explore how psilocybin influences brain health.
The study, “Effects of psilocybin on sleep quality and brain microstructure in chronic cluster headache,” was authored by Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix, Brice Ozenne, Patrick M. Fisher, Dea S. Stenbæk, Anja S. Petersen, Sophia Armand, Drummond E-Wen. McCulloch, Maja Rou Marstrand-Joergensen, Sara M. Ulv Larsen, Annette Johansen, Rigmor H. Jensen, Gitte M. Knudsen, and Martin K. Madsen.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinSleepStudy #ClusterHeadacheRelief #SleepQualityImprovement #PsychedelicTherapy #NeuroplasticityResearch #BrainMicrostructure #DiffusionMRI #SleepHealth #HeadacheManagement #BrainFluidDynamics
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#Psilocybin #MentalHealth #DepressionTreatment #PsychedelicTherapy #PsychiatricCare #MushroomMedicine #WellnessJourney #NewHope #wellnessgoals #wellnessadvocate #wellnesscoaching #wellnessfitness #wellnesscenter #wellnesscommunity #TherapeuticPsychedelics #Mindfulness https://mastodon.social/@biohackingpathway/116588891740098770
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#Psilocybin #MentalHealth #DepressionTreatment #PsychedelicTherapy #PsychiatricCare #MushroomMedicine #WellnessJourney #NewHope #wellnessgoals #wellnessadvocate #wellnesscoaching #wellnessfitness #wellnesscenter #wellnesscommunity #TherapeuticPsychedelics #Mindfulness https://mastodon.social/@biohackingpathway/116588891740098770
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#Psilocybin #MentalHealth #DepressionTreatment #PsychedelicTherapy #PsychiatricCare #MushroomMedicine #WellnessJourney #NewHope #wellnessgoals #wellnessadvocate #wellnesscoaching #wellnessfitness #wellnesscenter #wellnesscommunity #TherapeuticPsychedelics #Mindfulness https://mastodon.social/@biohackingpathway/115883706854362416
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"A rigorous new study finds that a single dose of LSD can ease anxiety and depression for months.... #mentalhealth #anxiety #PsychedelicSunday #neuroskyence #saludmental #paychopharmacology #neuropsychiatry #psychedelictherapy #anxietyrelief #psychedelicresearch
'One and done' dose of LSD kee... -
"A rigorous new study finds that a single dose of LSD can ease anxiety and depression for months.... #mentalhealth #anxiety #PsychedelicSunday #neuroskyence #saludmental #paychopharmacology #neuropsychiatry #psychedelictherapy #anxietyrelief #psychedelicresearch
'One and done' dose of LSD kee... -
"A rigorous new study finds that a single dose of LSD can ease anxiety and depression for months.... #mentalhealth #anxiety #PsychedelicSunday #neuroskyence #saludmental #paychopharmacology #neuropsychiatry #psychedelictherapy #anxietyrelief #psychedelicresearch
'One and done' dose of LSD kee... -
Enhancing Social Connection: Breakthrough Approaches in Mental Health
#NeuropsychiatricTreatment #SocialCognition #BrainStimulation #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicTherapy #Oxytocin #Mindfulness #SocialSkills #EmotionalResilience #MentalHealthRecovery #AutismSupport #SchizophreniaHelp #BrainResearch #EmpathyBuilding
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Enhancing Social Connection: Breakthrough Approaches in Mental Health
#NeuropsychiatricTreatment #SocialCognition #BrainStimulation #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicTherapy #Oxytocin #Mindfulness #SocialSkills #EmotionalResilience #MentalHealthRecovery #AutismSupport #SchizophreniaHelp #BrainResearch #EmpathyBuilding
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Enhancing Social Connection: Breakthrough Approaches in Mental Health
#NeuropsychiatricTreatment #SocialCognition #BrainStimulation #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicTherapy #Oxytocin #Mindfulness #SocialSkills #EmotionalResilience #MentalHealthRecovery #AutismSupport #SchizophreniaHelp #BrainResearch #EmpathyBuilding
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Enhancing Social Connection: Breakthrough Approaches in Mental Health
#NeuropsychiatricTreatment #SocialCognition #BrainStimulation #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicTherapy #Oxytocin #Mindfulness #SocialSkills #EmotionalResilience #MentalHealthRecovery #AutismSupport #SchizophreniaHelp #BrainResearch #EmpathyBuilding
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CW: 📵🔞
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CW: 📵🔞
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https://psychedelicmentalhealth.net/spotlight-smart-recovery-psychedelic-assisted-psychotherapy/ #psychedelics #ketamine #mentalhealth #psychedelicmentalhealth #recovery #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #neuroscience #psychedelictherapy #psychedelicassistedtherapy #psychedelicassistedpsychotherapy #ketaminetherapy #ketamineassistedpsychotherapy #psychedelicresearch #smartrecovery
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39245312/ KETAMINE: Neural- and network-level changes (Bharmauria, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelics #neuroscience #consciousness #psychedelictherapy #ketaminetherapy #ketamineassistedpsychotherapy #mentalhealth #fda #psychedelicassistedpsychotherapy #brains #neuroplasticity #neurogenesis
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38993656/ The Black Book of Psychotropic Dosing and Monitoring (DeBatista, et al, 2024) #mdma #antidepressants #psychiatry #pharmacotherapy #ssri #ptsd #depression #antipsychotics #fda #psychiatricdrugs #pharma #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #mdmaassistedpsychotherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38993656/ The Black Book of Psychotropic Dosing and Monitoring (DeBatista, et al, 2024) #mdma #antidepressants #psychiatry #pharmacotherapy #ssri #ptsd #depression #antipsychotics #fda #psychiatricdrugs #pharma #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #mdmaassistedpsychotherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38993656/ The Black Book of Psychotropic Dosing and Monitoring (DeBatista, et al, 2024) #mdma #antidepressants #psychiatry #pharmacotherapy #ssri #ptsd #depression #antipsychotics #fda #psychiatricdrugs #pharma #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #mdmaassistedpsychotherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38993656/ The Black Book of Psychotropic Dosing and Monitoring (DeBatista, et al, 2024) #mdma #antidepressants #psychiatry #pharmacotherapy #ssri #ptsd #depression #antipsychotics #fda #psychiatricdrugs #pharma #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #mdmaassistedpsychotherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38981574/ Shared effects of electroconvulsive shocks and ketamine on neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review of Animal Models of Depression (De Jager, et al, 2024) #ketamine #neuroplasticity #brains #electroshock #depression #neurogenesis #bdnf #brains #neuroscience #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelicresearch #fda #ketaminetherapy #psychedelictherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38982828/ Entactogen Effects of Ketamine: A Reverse-Translational Study (Hess, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelicresearch #entactogens #psychedelics #depression #neuroscience #fda #studydesign #mentalhealth #litreview #antidepressant #ketaminetherapy #psychedelictherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38982828/ Entactogen Effects of Ketamine: A Reverse-Translational Study (Hess, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelicresearch #entactogens #psychedelics #depression #neuroscience #fda #studydesign #mentalhealth #litreview #antidepressant #ketaminetherapy #psychedelictherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38982828/ Entactogen Effects of Ketamine: A Reverse-Translational Study (Hess, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelicresearch #entactogens #psychedelics #depression #neuroscience #fda #studydesign #mentalhealth #litreview #antidepressant #ketaminetherapy #psychedelictherapy
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38982828/ Entactogen Effects of Ketamine: A Reverse-Translational Study (Hess, et al, 2024) #ketamine #psychedelic #psychedelicresearch #entactogens #psychedelics #depression #neuroscience #fda #studydesign #mentalhealth #litreview #antidepressant #ketaminetherapy #psychedelictherapy
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https://youtu.be/DiHeBbOs-AU #mdma #psychedelics #Psilocybin #cannabis #lsd #ketamine #mdmaassistedtherapy #fda #ketamineassistedpsychotherapy #psychedelicassistedpsychotherapy #grief #deathanxiety #existentialdread #psychedelic #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #psychedelicresearch The fact that people have measurable changes in thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviors and MEANING after psychedelic therapy when supported by another human is measurable, even if obvious. #dosed #palliativecare #hospice
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#psychedelic Therapy—A New Paradigm of Care for Mental Health (Yehuda & Lerner, 2023)
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808951 #psychedelictherapy #psychedelicassistedtherapy #psychedelicassistedpsychotherapy #ketamine #ketaminetherapy #ketamineassistedpsychotherapy #mentalhealth #neuropsychiatry #psychedelics -
It's World Psychedelics Day (June 20th) https://worldpsychedelicsday.org. A good time to talk more about the importance of the research, reinvigorated in recent years--in my opinion especially with psilocybin mushrooms. 2 books I've been enjoying are Letheby's Philosophy of Psychedelics (https://worldcat.org/en/title/1261380529) a collection of great essays & Jay's "Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind" (https://worldcat.org/en/title/1373344593). #WPD, #620, #psychedelic, #PsychedelicTherapy #WorldPsychedelicsDay
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Some of my other interests/things I geek out on that may not be apparent from my bio:
(In no particular order)#Needlework
#ClimateJustice
#Dogs
#SpiritualDirection
#Quakers
#PsychedelicTherapy
#Jung
#Merton
#VineDeloriaJr
#NunsReligiousSisters
#Esoterica
#TransracialAdoption
#AdopteeRights
#AntiRacism
#DisabilityJustice
#KDramas
#Syncretism
#Hiking
#Parenting
#NewMexico -
Some of my other interests/things I geek out on that may not be apparent from my bio:
(In no particular order)#Needlework
#ClimateJustice
#Dogs
#SpiritualDirection
#Quakers
#PsychedelicTherapy
#Jung
#Merton
#VineDeloriaJr
#NunsReligiousSisters
#Esoterica
#TransracialAdoption
#AdopteeRights
#AntiRacism
#DisabilityJustice
#KDramas
#Syncretism
#Hiking
#Parenting
#NewMexico