Psychopharmacology

A 31-year-old man amputated his ears and penis while in a psychotic state after consuming cannabis and kratom. The case report underscores the rare but severe psychiatric risks of these substances.

New research suggests that psychedelics may offer more than momentary insight—they tend to leave people with a stronger sense of meaning in life. Across three studies, participants reported lasting increases in existential fulfillment after psychedelic experiences.

A study of adults with anxiety found that cannabis products with higher cannabidiol (CBD) content tended to improve mood and sleep regardless of inflammation, while the effects of THC-dominant cannabis varied with participants’ baseline inflammatory status.

High openness nearly doubled the odds of reporting lasting positive changes from a psychedelic trip, while high neuroticism raised the odds of negative aftereffects by 56%, according to new research examining the role of the Big Five personality traits.

Ketamine’s popularity is surging in both medical and recreational circles, but so are its risks. A new international survey of people addicted to the drug sheds light on severe health effects, treatment shortcomings, and the urgent need for better care.

A groundbreaking study has found that psilocybin can profoundly affect religious leaders, enhancing their spiritual lives and emotional well-being. Six months after two guided sessions, clergy from major world religions reported lasting positive changes in faith, mood, and leadership effectiveness.

A new study explores how psychedelic experiences may influence identity and mental health among LGBTQIA+ individuals. Survey data suggest that these substances are linked to greater self-acceptance, reduced psychological distress, and meaningful changes in gender and sexual identity exploration.

Unlike other drug users, individuals who used psychedelics and cannabis during the pandemic saw average improvements in anxiety and depression, according to a UK-based longitudinal study that tracked mental health before and after COVID-19 restrictions.

Researchers believe the antidepressant esketamine may "reset" rigid brain circuits. A new study provides evidence for this, showing the drug increases brain excitability while reducing top-down control, a state of cortical disinhibition thought to alleviate depressive symptoms.

A new clinical trial has found that a single dose of cannabidiol can reduce alcohol craving and dampen activity in a brain region tied to reward. The findings point to CBD’s potential as a treatment option for alcohol use disorder.

Scientists have discovered that psilocybin may have powerful anti-aging properties. New research provides the first experimental evidence that the compound from psychedelic mushrooms extends survival in aged mice and significantly delays the natural aging process in human cells.

A new brain imaging study reveals that individuals with alcohol use disorder have elevated levels of the antioxidant glutathione in a key brain region. Interestingly, those who drank less heavily in recent weeks showed the highest concentrations.

Researchers have discovered that psilocybin—but not ketamine—triggers widespread changes in neuropeptide-related genes in the rat hypothalamus. These findings may help explain how psychedelics influence mood, appetite, and stress responses through deep brain systems.

Does cannabis help or harm memory in older age? A new study in rats suggests the answer is complex. Researchers found THC’s effects depended on sex and delivery method, improving working memory in some cases while impairing it in others.

People under the influence of psilocybin perform more slowly on tasks measuring attention and executive function. But a new study suggests the problem might not be the drug—it might be the traditional lab tests used to assess cognition.