https://doi.org/10.55788/c6e5fc91
Both disturbances of sleep and poor concentration or indecisiveness are symptoms associated with depression [1]. On a neurobiological level, depression is associated with disturbed neuroplasticity and synaptic dysconnectivity [2]. The serotonergic agonist psilocybin is a psychedelic with antidepressant potential [3]. Additional to its antidepressant properties, psilocybin may modify sleep quality via induction of neuroplasticity.
Dr Tomas Palenicek (National Institute of Mental Health, Czech Republic) and colleagues hypothesised that psilocybin, similar to other classical antidepressants, would reduce REM sleep and prolong REM sleep latency the night after its administration [4]. Moreover, they hypothesised that psilocybin would promote slow-wave activity expression in the first sleep cycle, as a marker of sleep-related neuroplasticity. This was tested in 20 healthy volunteers who underwent 2 drug administration sessions of either psilocybin (0.26 mg/kg) or placebo in a randomised, double-blind design.
All participants mentioned a profound psychedelic experience and positive effects on mood and well-being after psilocybin administration. The study results revealed a prolonged REM sleep latency after psilocybin administration and a trend toward a decrease in overall REM sleep duration. No changes in non-REM sleep were observed. Psilocybin administration did not affect EEG power spectra in non-REM or REM sleep when examined across the whole night. In addition, and contrary to the hypothesis, psilocybin did not promote but rather suppressed slow-wave activity in the first sleep cycle. So, no evidence was found for sleep-related neuroplasticity induced by psilocybin.
āOverall, this study suggests that potential antidepressant properties of psilocybin might be related to changes in sleep quality. However, the results do not support a role for psilocybin in changes in neuroplasticity,ā concluded Dr Palenicek.
- Riemann D, et al. Neuropsychopharmacol. 2020;45:74ā89.
- Abdallah CG, et al. Annu Rev Med. 2015;66:509ā523.
- Carhart-Harris R, et al. N Eng J Med. 2021;384:1402ā1411.
- Palenicek T, et al. The effects of daytime psilocybin administration on sleep: implications for antidepressant action. Abstract S03.04, ECNP Congress 2022, 15ā18 October, Vienna, Austria.
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Table of Contents: ECNP 2022
Featured articles
Letter from the Editor
New Medications
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Low-dose ulipristal acetate is an effective treatment for PMDD
New Findings
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Digital Technology
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VR exposure as effective as in vivo exposure for phobia
Efficacy of smartphone-based treatment of bipolar disorders not (yet) validated
Psilocybin
Mode of action of psilocybin
Fast and sustained effect of 2 administrations of psilocybin on depression
Antidepressant properties of psilocybin might be related to changes in sleep
Peripartum Neurobiology
Both sex hormones and serotonin play a role in peripartum mental health
Child loss induces short- and long-term neurobiological changes
Reproductive state matters when looking at the female brain and drug treatment effects
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Different brain responses to fat and/or sugar
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