Depression and other mental health disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide. In many countries, the go-to treatment for depression are antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs or TCAs. However, they may be associated with side effects such as sexual dysfunction, sleeping problems, weight gain or loss and, in some patients, symptoms recur once treatment is interrupted. Therefore, although commonly prescribed medication helps many people suffering from mental health disorders live normal lives, others are seeking novel alternatives. In particular, the potential use of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and LSD in treating mental health disorders has recently attracted growing interest. After decades of being classified and banned for research, psychedelics are now being explored as alternatives to commonly prescribed medications - with potential advantages in efficacy and/or side-effect profile.

This Collection welcomes preclinical and clinical work that explores the potential therapeutic application of psychedelics in treating mental health disorders, as well as work that explores the underlying basic mechanisms of the effects of psychedelics on the human brain. Other substances, beyond classical or atypical psychedelics, that have therapeutic potential and may induce altered states of consciousness, will also be considered.