Abstract #1980

A 7T MRS study of Psilocybin administration in patients with major depressive disorder

Michal Povazan^1,2, Manoj Doss^3,4, Alan K Davis^3,4,5, Matthew W Johnson^3,4, Roland R Griffits^3,4,6, Peter B Barker^1,2, and Frederick S Barrett^3,4

¹Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ²F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, ³Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁴Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁵College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States, ⁶Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States

Recent studies have shown that the administration of psilocybin may reduce depression severity. A role of glutamate was hypothesized in the antidepressant efficacy, however the exact neurobiological mechanisms remain unknown. Proton MR spectroscopy enables a valuable insight into glutamatergic metabolism and provides information about other important neuronal markers such as N-acetylaspartate. Here, we have utilized STEAM MR spectroscopy at 7T to observe the changes of cortical metabolites after psilocybin administration in patients with major depressive disorder. Two high dose sessions of psilocybin decreased glutamate and NAA levels of the anterior cingulate in the cohort.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here