Long-term use was associated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex , thickening of the anterior cingulate cortex , and decreased neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding .
Despite the high method ological heterogeneity and the small sample sizes , the results suggest that hallucinogens increase introspection and positive mood by modulating brain activity in the fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital cortex
Serotonergic hallucinogens produce alterations of perceptions , mood , and cognition , and have anxiolytic , antidepressant , and antiaddictive properties .
These drugs act as agonists of frontocortical 5-HT2A receptors , but the neural basis of their effects are not well understood .
Thus , we conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens in man .
Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction
Despite suggestive early findings on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens in the treatment of substance use disorders , rigorous follow-up has not been conducted . To determine the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as an adjunct to tobacco smoking cessation treatment we conducted an open-label pilot study administering moderate ( 20 mg/70 kg ) and high ( 30 mg/70 kg ) doses of psilocybin within a structured 15-week smoking cessation treatment protocol . Participants were 15 psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers ( 10 males ; mean age of 51 years ) , with a mean of six previous lifetime quit attempts , and smoking a mean of 19 cigarettes per day for a mean of 31 years at intake . Biomarkers assessing smoking status , and self-report measures of smoking behavior demonstrated that 12 of 15 participants ( 80 % ) showed seven-day point prevalence abstinence at 6-month follow-up . The observed smoking cessation rate substantially exceeds rates commonly reported for other behavioral and /or pharmacological therapies ( typically < 35 % ) . Although the open-label design does not allow for definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of psilocybin , these findings suggest psilocybin may be a potentially efficacious adjunct to current smoking cessation treatment models . The present study illustrates a framework for future research on the efficacy and mechanisms of hallucinogen-facilitated treatment of addiction
Long-term use was associated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex , thickening of the anterior cingulate cortex , and decreased neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding .
Despite the high method ological heterogeneity and the small sample sizes , the results suggest that hallucinogens increase introspection and positive mood by modulating brain activity in the fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital cortex
Serotonergic hallucinogens produce alterations of perceptions , mood , and cognition , and have anxiolytic , antidepressant , and antiaddictive properties .
These drugs act as agonists of frontocortical 5-HT2A receptors , but the neural basis of their effects are not well understood .
Thus , we conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens in man .