Discussion
Long-COVID, also known as PASC, is a condition where individuals continue to experience symptoms of COVID-19 long after the acute phase of the illness has resolved. The symptoms of Long-COVID can be diverse and can range from mild to severe, making it challenging to manage and treat. Traditional treatment options for Long-COVID include rehabilitation, physical therapy, and medications for specific symptoms such as pain and fatigue.5 However, these treatment options may not be effective for all individuals, and there is a need for alternative treatment options.
A recent review has suggested that psychedelics could be an effective treatment option for the mental health sequelae of COVID-19.3 Psychedelics have been traditionally used in spiritual and religious practices, but in recent years, there has been a resurgence of research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. Psychedelics have shown promise in the treatment of various medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
The mechanisms by which psychedelics could improve Long-COVID symptoms are not understood. The pathophysiology of Long-COVID symptoms include chronic neuroinflammation and neurologic dysfunction.6Psychedelics are known to modulate the activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, leading to changes in brain connectivity and potentially increasing neural plasticity. Psychedelics activate areas of the brain that are involved in self-referential processing, emotional regulation, and alter connectivity within and between intrinsic brain networks such as the default mode network (DMN).7 It has been hypothesized that the ability of psychedelics to alter DMN connectivity infers benefit in chronic neuropathic conditions by improving efficiency of these networks.7 There is research showing alterations in default mode network connectivity in patients with Long-COVID symptoms.8 Other research has pointed to the effects of psychedelics on gene expression as a means of influencing synaptic plasticity and neural inflammation as well as decreasing acute phase reactants, which could underlie the sustained benefits seen in studies of depression and other chronic neuropathic conditions.9