Mini-review: The neurobiology of treating substance use disorders with classical psychedelics

Marvin M Urban; Moritz R Stingl; Marcus W Meinhardt

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1156319

Mini-review: The neurobiology of treating substance use disorders with classical psychedelics

Front Neurosci. 2023 Apr 17:17:1156319. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1156319. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Marvin M Urban^{1

2}, Moritz R Stingl^{1

2}, Marcus W Meinhardt^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.
² Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
³ Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
⁴ Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.

Abstract

The potential of psychedelics to persistently treat substance use disorders is known since the 1960s. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic effects have not yet been fully elucidated. While it is known that serotonergic hallucinogens induce changes in gene expression and neuroplasticity, particularly in prefrontal regions, theories on how specifically this counteracts the alterations that occur in neuronal circuitry throughout the course of addiction are largely unknown. This narrative mini-review endeavors to synthesize well-established knowledge from addiction research with findings and theories regarding the neurobiological effects of psychedelics to give an overview of the potential mechanisms that underlie the treatment of substance use disorders with classical hallucinogenic compounds and point out gaps in the current understanding.

Keywords: addiction; dependency; hallucinogen; plasticity; psilocybin; psychedelics; substance; therapy.

Publication types

Review