Lipophilicity helps explain psychedelic drugs’ therapeutic effects

New research on how psychedelic drugs promote neuron growth in the brain could explain the therapeutic effects these drugs display in the treatment of mental health conditions. The work helps to unravel why some drugs that bind to serotonin receptors bring sustained antidepressant effects that other compounds, including serotonin itself, don’t produce.

Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin – the key active ingredient in magic mushrooms – have been shown to offer benefits in treating mental health conditions like depression. Psilocybin was officially recognised as a medicine for the first time in a decision by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration earlier this month.