The effect of psilocybin on empathy and prosocial behavior: a proposed mechanism for enduring antidepressant effects

Kush V Bhatt; Cory R Weissman

doi:10.1038/s44184-023-00053-8

The effect of psilocybin on empathy and prosocial behavior: a proposed mechanism for enduring antidepressant effects

Npj Ment Health Res. 2024 Feb 20;3(1):7. doi: 10.1038/s44184-023-00053-8.

Authors

Kush V Bhatt¹, Cory R Weissman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. CWeissman@health.ucsd.edu.

Abstract

Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic shown to have enduring antidepressant effects. Currently, the mechanism for its enduring effects is not well understood. Empathy and prosocial behavior may be important for understanding the therapeutic benefit of psilocybin. In this article we review the effect of psilocybin on empathy and prosocial behavior. Moreover, we propose that psilocybin may induce a positive feedback loop involving empathy and prosocial behavior which helps explain the observed, enduring antidepressant effects.

Publication types

Review