Psychedelics and ketamine/esketamine in depressive disorders: biological mechanisms and associated neuroimaging and clinical changes

OG article by Giacomo d’Andrea, Stefania Chiappini, Laura Ciavoni, Rolando Tucci,

Fabrizio Martino, Francesco Maria Semeraro, Daniele Di Battista, Alessio Mosca,

Andrea Miuli, Francesco Di Carlo, Mirella Russo, Gilberto tta, Michele Fornaro,

Mauro Pettorruso, Stefano L. Sensi &Di Pe Giovanni Martinotti 

October 30 2025

Psychedelics rewire depressed brains.

Review of scans.

Psilocybin:

Resets default mode network.

Cuts rumination.

Ayahuasca:

Boosts key brain areas.

Ketamine:

Strengthens prefrontal links.

Fights anhedonia.

Shared wins:

• Symptom drop.

• Network reset.

• Plasticity surge.

Rapid relief.