GLP Agonists and Psychedelics: New Classes of Treatments Emerge in Addiction and Psychiatry
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychiatry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2027 | Viewed by 134
Editor
Interests: translational addiction neuroscience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
GLP Agonists and Psychedelics: New Classes of Treatments Emerge in Addiction and Psychiatry explores two of the most consequential therapeutic developments in contemporary addiction treatment and neuropsychiatry. Recent advances in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and psychedelic-assisted therapies are reshaping concepts of reward, craving, compulsivity, mood regulation, treatment, recovery and neuroplasticity across addiction and psychiatric disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that GLP-1 agents—including semaglutide and tirzepatide—may be new novel treatments reducing harms from alcohol, nicotine, opioid, stimulant and behavioral addictions through modulation of dopaminergic reward circuitry and impulse control, while simultaneously addressing obesity and metabolic comorbidity. In parallel, renewed clinical investigation of psychedelics such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine and related compounds has demonstrated potential efficacy in depression, PTSD, substance use disorders and existential distress through mechanisms involving neuroplasticity, emotional processing and transformative psychological experiences. Together, these rapidly evolving therapeutic classes challenge traditional boundaries between psychiatry, addiction medicine, neuroscience and metabolic health. This Special Issue will examine translational science, clinical trials, neurobiological mechanisms, ethics, safety, health policy and future treatment models, highlighting how these emerging interventions may fundamentally offer more than replacement or lifelong treatments but a novel reset and possible cure. More like these new approaches will decrease use and harm and interventions in preaddiction. It is an exciting time with new treatments, prevention, recovery and long-term care in psychiatry and addiction medicine.
Dr. Mark S. Gold
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- GLP-1 receptor agonists
- cocaine
- alcohol
- cannabis
- tobacco
- substance use
- psychedelics
- addiction psychiatry
- psychedelic medicine
- substance use disorders
- addiction
- neuroplasticity
- reward circuitry
- semaglutide
- 5-MeO-DMT
- psilocybin
- ibogaine
- MDMA
- LSD
- translational neuroscience
- precision psychiatry
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