PSYCHEDELIC RENAISSANCE IN PSYCHIATRY: EMERGING EVIDENCE FOR PSILOCYBIN, KETAMINE, AND MDMA IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Bachu Bhavani*, Jothsnavi, R. L. Manisha and Sudhakar Muvvala

Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are potent psychoactive drugs that impact many cognitive functions and change mood and perception. They don't cause addiction or dependence and are generally regarded as physically harmless. The increasing prevalence of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) throughout the world highlights the critical need for faster-acting and more efficient therapies.[1] Interest in psychedelic pharmacology has increased recently, especially in relation to the medicinal potential of psilocybin, ketamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). These drugs, which were once disregarded because of social and legal restrictions, are currently undergoing thorough clinical trials and have shown encouraging results in lowering the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders that are resistant to therapy. Psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA's distinct pharmacological effects and potential to revolutionize psychiatric treatment paradigms are examined in this review along with their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles. When used in controlled, therapeutic settings, both compounds can promote long-term psychological healing and provide quick symptom relief, even though they work through different neural pathways, such as serotonin receptor agonism, NMDA receptor antagonism, and improved emotional processing. Although there are still issues with accessibility, long-term safety, and ethical issues, new research makes psychedelic-assisted therapy an intriguing new avenue for mental health treatment.[2]