PSYCHEDELICS IN PSYCHIATRY - OVERVIEW OF PSILOCYBIN RESEARCH
Abstract
Introduction: Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest in the use of psychedelics for various psychiatric conditions. Psilocybin is receiving particular attention as a psychoactive substance with significant therapeutic potential. Recent research focuses on its possible benefits in the treatment of major depressive disorders (MDD) and anorexia nervosa (AN).
Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating MDD and AN by analyzing its mechanism of action, clinical trials results and further implications of PAT.
Materials and methods: An overview of 26 articles sourced from PubMed and open-access databases was conducted, with a focus on randomized controlled trials, neurobiological mechanisms and also exploratory research.
Conclusions: Psilocybin and PAT demonstrated significant antidepressant effects, enhancing neuroplasticity, connectivity and cognitive flexibility. While evidence in MDD is significantly more established, preliminary findings in AN are promising, but still require further controlled clinical trials. Psilocybin represents a novel approach to treatment of MDD and AN.
References
Sessa B. The 21st century psychedelic renaissance: heroic steps forward on the back of an elephant. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018;235(2):551-560. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4713-7
fda.gov: Breakthrough Therapy
Lacroix, E., Fatur, K., Hay, P. et al. Psychedelics and the treatment of eating disorders: considerations for future research and practice. J Eat Disord 12, 165 (2024).doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01125-6
Feng B, Harms J, Chen E, Gao P, Xu P, He Y. Current Discoveries and Future Implications of Eating Disorders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(14):6325. Published 2023 Jul 8. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20146325
Gukasyan N, Schreyer CC, Griffiths RR, Guarda AS. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for People with Eating Disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2022;24(12):767-775. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01394-5
Kočárová R, Horáček J, Carhart-Harris R. Does Psychedelic Therapy Have a Transdiagnostic Action and Prophylactic Potential?. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:661233. Published 2021 Jul 19. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.661233
Calder A, Mock S, Friedli N, Pasi P, Hasler G. Psychedelics in the treatment of eating disorders: Rationale and potential mechanisms. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023;75:1-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.05.008
Carhart-Harris RL, Friston KJ. REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics. Pharmacol Rev. 2019;71(3):316-344. doi:https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.118.017160
Ho JT, Preller KH, Lenggenhager B. Neuropharmacological modulation of the aberrant bodily self through psychedelics. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020;108:526-541. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.006
Erkizia-Santamaría I, Horrillo I, Martínez-Álvarez N, et al. Evaluation of behavioural and neurochemical effects of psilocybin in mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Transl Psychiatry. 2025;15(1):201. Published 2025 Jun 14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03421-4
Ben-Tal T, Pogodin I, Botvinnik A, Lifschytz T, Heresco-Levy U, Lerer B. Synergistic behavioral and neuroplastic effects of psilocybin-NMDAR modulator administration. Transl Psychiatry. 2025;15(1):200. Published 2025 Jun 13. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03428-x
Kit A, Conway K, Makarowski S, et al. Can the gut-brain axis provide insight into psilocybin's therapeutic value in reducing stress?. Neurobiol Stress. 2025;36:100732. Published 2025 May 19. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2025.100732
Gukasyan N, Davis AK, Barrett FS, et al. Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up. J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(2):151-158. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211073759
Davis AK, Barrett FS, May DG, et al. Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial [published correction appears in JAMA Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 10:569. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4714.]. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(5):481-489. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285
Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, et al. Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression: Impact on patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, function, and quality of life. J Affect Disord. 2023;327:120-127. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.108
Henry J, Giribaldi B, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D, Carhart-Harris R, Lyons T. The effects of psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram on cognitive bias: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. Published online June 23, 2025. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2025.06.003
Zhang Y, Yang L, Zhang Q, Li C, Mao F, Zhuo C. The molecular mechanisms through which psilocybin prevents suicide: evidence from network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. Transl Psychiatry. 2025;15(1):202. Published 2025 Jun 16. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03410-7
Reed F, Foldi CJ. Do the therapeutic effects of psilocybin involve actions in the gut?. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2024;45(2):107-117. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2023.12.007
Spriggs MJ, Douglass HM, Park RJ, et al. Study Protocol for "Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study". Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:735523. Published 2021 Oct 20. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.735523
McCoy K, Reed F, Conn K, Foldi CJ. Separate or inseparable? Serotonin and dopamine system interactions may underlie the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa. Physiol Behav. 2025;298:114957. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.114957
Morris R, Keeler J, Treasure J, Himmerich H. The pharmacological treatment of anxiety in people with eating disorders: A systematic review. Pharmacol Res. 2025;216:107782. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107782
Peck SK, Shao S, Gruen T, et al. Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study. Nat Med. 2023;29(8):1947-1953. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02455-9
Downey AE, Chaphekar AV, Woolley J, Raymond-Flesch M. Psilocybin therapy and anorexia nervosa: a narrative review of safety considerations for researchers and clinicians. J Eat Disord. 2024;12(1):49. Published 2024 Apr 24. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01005-z
Metastasio A, Prevete E, Venturini S, et al. The phenomenology of psilocybin: transformative insights for research and clinical practice. Front Psychol. 2025;16:1455902. Published 2025 Apr 25. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1455902
Shao LX, Liao C, Gregg I, et al. Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo. Neuron. 2021;109(16):2535-2544.e4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008
Zeifman RJ, Wagner AC, Monson CM, Carhart-Harris RL. How does psilocybin therapy work? An exploration of experiential avoidance as a putative mechanism of change. J Affect Disord. 2023;334:100-112. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.105
Views:
34
Downloads:
17
Copyright (c) 2025 Anna Blazhkova, Magdalena Czaja, Hanna Sitka, Sven Solisch, Anna Susłow, Ewa Szczęsna

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.