Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev, Dartiu Xavier da Silveira, Thiago Marques Fidalgo
{"title":"The purpose of the psychosocial protocol in the psychedelic-assisted therapy: A scoping review.","authors":"Flavia Giaffone de Paiva Ferreira, João Ariel Bonar Fernandes, Renato Filev, Dartiu Xavier da Silveira, Thiago Marques Fidalgo","doi":"10.1177/02698811261453850","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261453850","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With growing research on the use of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions, greater attention to the psychosocial procedures accompanying substance administration is warranted. This scoping review aims to categorize psychosocial protocols used in research involving psychedelics as psychiatric treatment according to their purpose, denomination, format, therapeutic orientation, formalization, and duration. Experimental and observational studies were identified through online search platforms, covering Ayahuasca, Dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-<i>N,N</i>-dimethyltryptamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Ibogaine, Mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Psilocybin, and 4-hydroxy-<i>N,N</i>-diisopropyltryptamine, yielding 62 eligible studies that were also assessed for methodological quality. Seven categories were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context. Although limited reporting and heterogeneity remain methodological challenges, these features reveal divergent research intentions and contextual constraints. The proposed parameters suggest a shared language to describe, compare, and examine psychosocial protocols across studies and reduce conceptual uncertainty in the field. This review may facilitate research decision-making and support the development of structured and replicable study designs, while predicting flexibility to accommodate individualized, culturally responsive, and population-specific care. Ultimately, researchers explicitly defining the intended purpose of psychosocial protocols may improve its transparent reporting, and evaluation. Future research should balance methodological rigor with attention to real-world studies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and demographic diversity for responsible advancing.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1054-1090"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148339014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorena Francés Soriano, Aina Iglesias Huguet, Juana María Andrés Tauler, Jaume Morey Cañellas, C Virgínia Soler Gost, Sandra Jiménez Motilla, Alberto Rodríguez-Quiroga, Macarena Quintero, Javier Quintero
{"title":"Potential use of propranolol in autism spectrum disorder: A narrative review.","authors":"Lorena Francés Soriano, Aina Iglesias Huguet, Juana María Andrés Tauler, Jaume Morey Cañellas, C Virgínia Soler Gost, Sandra Jiménez Motilla, Alberto Rodríguez-Quiroga, Macarena Quintero, Javier Quintero","doi":"10.1177/02698811251399567","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811251399567","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Rationale: </strong>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Although several pharmacological agents have been trialed, treatments for core features remain limited. Propranolol, a non-selective β₁/β₂-adrenoceptor antagonist (β-blocker, NbN), has shown potential effects across multiple ASD-related domains.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A narrative review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses principles. Systematic searches in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest identified 22 studies, of which 15 were included, comprising randomized controlled trials, single-dose psychopharmacological challenge studies, and reviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Evidence suggests that propranolol may improve social anxiety, verbal problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and behavioral dysregulation. Benefits of facial scanning and verbal fluency have also been described. The drug may attenuate adrenergic hyperarousal and promote parasympathetic dominance. However, most positive findings derive from small samples or single-dose studies, while sustained double-blind trials are scarce. Polypharmacy contexts remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Propranolol may serve as an adjunctive therapy in selected ASD cases, particularly when other strategies are insufficient. Its central nervous system penetration and anxiolytic profile support potential clinical use. Emerging evidence suggests that autonomic biomarkers and pharmacogenetic factors (e.g., <i>CYP2D6</i>, <i>ADRB1/2</i> polymorphisms) could inform patient selection.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Propranolol shows promise in modulating adrenergic activity relevant to several ASD symptom domains. The most consistent evidence supports anxiolytic effects under sustained dosing, whereas cognitive and behavioral findings remain preliminary. Larger, placebo-controlled trials with biomarker integration are needed to clarify efficacy, long-term safety, and clinical positioning. Until then, its use should remain cautious and highly individualized.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1026-1036"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145850134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pavan S Brar, Rebecca B Price, Stephen Ross, Babak Tofighi, Deepak K Sarpal
{"title":"The intersection between psychedelics and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Reevaluating risk and therapeutic potential.","authors":"Pavan S Brar, Rebecca B Price, Stephen Ross, Babak Tofighi, Deepak K Sarpal","doi":"10.1177/02698811261456191","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261456191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the past decade, interest in studying psychedelic compounds as potential therapeutic agents has resurged. These studies carefully exclude individuals at risk for developing psychotic symptoms in response to psychedelic use. Given the potential for psychedelics to be established as treatments in psychiatry, it is important to more robustly understand their link with psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). In this narrative review, we examine the historical and theoretical relationship between psychedelic drugs and SSDs, including the origins of the psychotomimetic hypothesis. For key psychedelic compounds, we review their phenomenological manifestations in relation to the experiential alterations characteristic of SSDs, revealing both areas of overlap and important qualitative differences that challenge the uniform psychotomimetic classification. We also review putative neural mechanisms underlying altered experiential states associated with psychedelic use and SSDs, with attention to serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic contributions. Clinical evidence demonstrates that psychedelics can exacerbate pre-existing psychotic illness and may trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals, though the magnitude of these risks remains inadequately quantified. However, phenomenological and mechanistic distinctions suggest that potential therapeutic applications may exist for carefully selected symptoms (negative symptoms, depression) in stable patients using low-dose, controlled approaches. Based on published work, we provide recommendations regarding psychosis-related risk and potential avenues for the treatment of SSDs as psychedelics gain traction as therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1037-1053"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13376330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148317733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Farewell to Jim Watson (and Francis Crick). A reflection on their contributions to psychiatry and brain science.","authors":"David J Nutt","doi":"10.1177/02698811251406838","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811251406838","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"993-994"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nathan S. Kline: From the first treatments of psychosis and depression, a 70-year legacy of a pioneer of psychopharmacology.","authors":"Larissa Junkes, Richard I Shader, Antonio E Nardi","doi":"10.1177/02698811261436582","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261436582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current era is characterized by the pursuit of novel medications and drug repurposing through innovative mechanisms that modulate systems beyond the monoaminergic, focusing on novel synaptic signaling targets. Against this backdrop, it can be challenging to recall a time when psychopharmacology was in its infancy, and every discovery represented the cutting edge. Nathan S. Kline, a clinician and researcher, was a pivotal figure in introducing the first psychoactive substances into clinical practice. His seminal work on reserpine as a sedative and his evaluation of the antidepressant properties of iproniazid, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), positioned him at the scientific vanguard of pharmacological psychiatry. Kline made multiple substantial contributions to the medical-scientific literature, publishing foundational papers on the use of reserpine in neuropsychiatric hospitals, the application of <i>Rauwolfia serpentina</i> for neuropsychiatric conditions, and comparative studies of iproniazid and other MAOIs, among numerous other manuscripts. Kline's enduring legacy extends beyond psychopharmacology, encompassing early efforts in health informatics to optimize psychiatric logistics and advocacy for the expansion of global mental health care networks, including in low- and middle-income countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1018-1025"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Todd D Gould, Sanjay J Mathew, Maurizio Fava, Anantha Shekhar
{"title":"Enhancing plasticity to treat depression and other central nervous system diseases using event-driven pharmacology.","authors":"Todd D Gould, Sanjay J Mathew, Maurizio Fava, Anantha Shekhar","doi":"10.1177/02698811261456206","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261456206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The occupancy-driven pharmacology model in psychopharmacology has guided drug discovery and development for decades, whereby the goal is stable receptor occupancy over an extended period with a direct relationship of drug exposure to pharmacodynamic and therapeutic response. Event-driven pharmacology (EDP) is a concept where the acute pharmacodynamic actions of a plastogen, a transient binding event, drive changes resulting in sustained pharmacodynamic effects that greatly outlast the time frame of drug exposure. Such plastogens may be neuroplastogens producing a measurable change in neuroplasticity without inducing subjective mental states or psychoplastogens exerting neuroplastic effects in addition to causing dissociation, hallucinations, or psychotomimetic symptoms. Within neuropsychiatry, plastogens have been shown to induce long-lasting neural plasticity and persistently activate synaptic machinery that primes synapses to respond to subsequent stimuli (metaplasticity), often following either a single dose or repeated administration of intermittent doses. Developing rapid-acting plastogens to adhere to a traditional target occupancy dose optimization model that achieves consistent drug target occupancy over an extended period of time may paradoxically exert few or no durable benefits while increasing side effect burden. We review evidence supporting the concept that plastogens, including the rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine and classical psychedelics, operate within the EDP model. With the emergence of EDP, new methods for drug development, clinical dosing, and biomarker adoption will need to be developed to account for distinctive pharmacological actions. Rapid-onset plastogens, rationally administered, have profound potential in the treatment of depression and many other neurological and psychiatric diseases characterized by synaptic dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1001-1009"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13376327/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148430667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis.","authors":"Yiğit Özaydın, Buket Canlan Özaydın","doi":"10.1177/02698811261456196","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261456196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psychedelic microdosing-repeated sub-perceptual doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or psilocybin-has attracted scientific interest as a potential mood and cognitive intervention. The evidence base remains methodologically heterogeneous and vulnerable to expectancy bias.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an umbrella review with narrative synthesis following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 standards (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [PROSPERO]: 2020 standards (PROSPERO: CRD420251077340). Six databases were searched through February 2026. Eligible studies were systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses examining microdosing effects (⩽20 μg LSD or ⩽3 mg psilocybin per session) on mood or cognitive outcomes in adults. Quality was appraised with A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2; primary-study overlap was quantified via corrected covered area (CCA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three meta-analyses met quantitative criteria, drawing on 14 studies (13 unique samples, <i>N</i> = 1614); three reviews contributed to narrative synthesis. Primary-study overlap was very high (CCA = 0.29). The sole significant pooled effect was a small decrease in cognitive control (<i>d</i> = -0.34, 95% CI: -0.62 to -0.06); all other domains were non-significant. No eligible meta-analysis provided pooled mood-outcome effect sizes within the microdose threshold; narrative evidence indicates that self-reported mood benefits are largely attenuated under placebo-controlled conditions. Short-term tolerability was acceptable, though cardiovascular signals and long-term risks via 5-HT<sub>2</sub>B activation remain uncharacterized.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Current evidence does not support cognitive enhancement through microdosing; the only consistent controlled finding runs counter to popular claims: microdosing was associated with a small but reliable impairment of cognitive control. Observed mood benefits are not replicated under blinded conditions, consistent with expectancy-driven responding. Adequately powered, preregistered, expectancy-controlled trials are required before clinical recommendations can be made.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1091-1102"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148338999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pravesh Sharma, Jared Kendrick, Jennifer Schram, Sam M Stumo, Averi Garscia, Douglas B Matthews
{"title":"From monotherapy to sequential models: An updated scoping review on ibogaine's role in treatment for psychiatric disorders.","authors":"Pravesh Sharma, Jared Kendrick, Jennifer Schram, Sam M Stumo, Averi Garscia, Douglas B Matthews","doi":"10.1177/02698811261443674","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811261443674","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preliminary evidence examining ibogaine in neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders is accumulating. As patient interest and off-label use grow, clinicians require an understanding of emerging dosing strategies, investigational protocols, and reported adverse effects to appropriately counsel patients and contextualize potential risks and benefits.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Databases were searched for human studies of ibogaine, noribogaine, or 5-MeO-DMT with relevant clinical outcomes, prioritizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), microdosing paradigms, and sequential protocols.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only three RCTs were identified. First, a double-blind pilot study in 20 cocaine-dependent adults found that a single 1800 mg dose of ibogaine was associated with reduced craving versus placebo over follow-up of up to 24 weeks. Second, an ascending-dose trial in 36 healthy volunteers showed that noribogaine doses of 3-60 mg were safe and well-tolerated, without opioid-agonist effects. Third, a randomized crossover trial in 27 opioid-dependent patients receiving noribogaine 60-180 mg demonstrated dose-dependent heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation with non-significant reductions in withdrawal symptoms. Thus, two RCTs enrolled substance-dependent populations, while one focused on safety and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Microdosing and escalating sequential protocols remain experimental, lack standardized definitions, and are supported only by preliminary observational data. Adverse effects include neurologic, psychiatric, and cardiac events, including QTc prolongation; fatalities have occurred in the presence of medical and substance use comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The available evidence is confined to case reports, observational analyses, and small early-phase or proof-of-concept studies. Given ibogaine's cardiotoxicity and narrow therapeutic margin, clinical use cannot be recommended without confirmation from larger, well-controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"1103-1117"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147874631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of psychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience in understanding the brain in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and neurological diseases for the benefit of society.","authors":"Barbara J Sahakian","doi":"10.1177/02698811251397329","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811251397329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This perspectives piece reflects on some of the major scientific contributions in psychopharmacology, cognitive neuroscience, and public policy of Professor Barbara J. Sahakian, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). Her pioneering research has advanced the understanding of brain mechanisms, including neurotransmitter modulation, and psychological processes involved in cognition, emotion, and motivation, leading to novel treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. She has also contributed to a better understanding of brain mechanisms underlying and psychological processes involved in these disorders. She has championed early detection of Alzheimer's disease through neuropsychological tools, such as the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) paired associates learning (PAL) test and contributed to identifying cognitive and neural changes in Huntington's disease gene carriers. Beyond clinical research, Sahakian has influenced public health policy through initiatives such as the UK Government Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on gambling-related harms. She has also led efforts in neuroethics and public engagement, co-authoring accessible science books and participating in global forums. Recent research emphasises preventative psychiatry, including lifestyle interventions, such as diet, sleep, social connection, and lifelong learning as preventive strategies for cognitive decline and mental health problems. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and mentorship, Sahakian continues to inspire the next generation of scientists to pursue innovative research for societal benefit in neuropsychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"995-1000"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13376324/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145648807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psilocybin reduces fear memory and restores neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex.","authors":"Yingjie Du, Xiangting Zhao, Yishan Yao, Yunfeng Li, Guyan Wang, Liming Zhang","doi":"10.1177/02698811261453819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811261453819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder are often comorbid in humans. Psilocybin reportedly has beneficial therapeutic effects on depression, possibly by promoting neuroplasticity. PTSD is associated with the dysregulation of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We hypothesized that psilocybin might reduce fear memory by promoting neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and mPFC.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>We investigated the effects of psilocybin on fear memory and explored its underlying mechanisms. We generated a mouse model of PTSD via auditory-cued fear conditioning and treated the mice with either vehicle or psilocybin (2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) on day 0. Fear memory was assessed by the percentage of freezing time in response to conditioned stimuli. Fear memory tests were conducted on days 1, 6, and 7, after which the mice were sacrificed. To investigate the role of neuroplasticity in mediating the effects of psilocybin on fear memory, we assessed structural neuroplasticity and neuroplasticity-associated marker protein levels in the hippocampus and mPFC 7 days after a single dose of psilocybin.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Psilocybin reduced the cue-induced fear response on days 1, 6, and 7. Psilocybin ameliorated the fear conditioning-induced decreases in neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and mPFC. Through Golgi-Cox staining, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining, we found that psilocybin increased dendritic branches and spine density, upregulated GluR1 and synapsin-1, enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, and promoted neurogenesis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A single dose of psilocybin reduces both the rapid and sustained fear memory in mice, at least in part by restoring neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and mPFC. These findings indicate that psilocybin has significant potential for use in the treatment of PTSD and other mental disorders characterized by fear memory.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"2698811261453819"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148339020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}