Psychedelic research transforms global mental health treatment paradigms

(Press-News.org) VILLARS-SUR-GLÂNE, SWITZERLAND, 2 September 2025 -- In a revealing Genomic Press Interview published today in Psychedelics, Professor Gregor Hasler unveils transformative discoveries that are fundamentally reshaping international approaches to mental health treatment through psychedelic research. As Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Fribourg and Director of the Molecular Psychiatry Lab, Professor Hasler stands at the vanguard of a scientific revolution that promises to alleviate suffering for millions worldwide who struggle with treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. The interview, part of the Innovators & Ideas series, captures decades of pioneering research into how psychedelics rapidly enhance neuroplasticity and offer enduring therapeutic benefits that conventional treatments cannot match.

Revolutionary Mechanisms Transform Global Treatment Approaches

Professor Hasler explains in the interview how his research has uncovered remarkable mechanisms through which psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA fundamentally reorganize brain function. Unlike traditional antidepressants that require weeks to show effects and often provide only temporary relief, psychedelic-assisted therapies can produce profound improvements lasting months or even years after just a few carefully supervised sessions. His interdisciplinary team has demonstrated that these substances work by rapidly enhancing neuroplasticity, essentially allowing the brain to rewire itself and break free from the rigid patterns that characterize depression, PTSD, and addiction.

The interview reveals that Professor Hasler discovered mGluR5 as a biomarker for neuroplasticity and for nicotine dependence in particular. This breakthrough exemplifies his unique ability to translate complex molecular research into practical clinical applications that directly benefit patients worldwide. His work on glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter systems, which he considers his greatest scientific achievement, has fundamentally altered scientific understanding of mood disorders, opening entirely new therapeutic avenues for conditions previously considered untreatable.

Could these discoveries lead to a complete paradigm shift in how psychiatric disorders are conceptualized and treated globally? The evidence increasingly suggests they will, as international research teams build upon Professor Hasler findings to develop next-generation treatments.

From Swiss Innovation to Worldwide Impact

Switzerland has long been recognized as a crucible of psychiatric innovation, having given the world antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and even the original discovery of LSD. Professor Hasler continues this tradition while extending its reach far beyond national borders. As President of the Swiss Society for Drug Safety in Psychiatry and a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, he ensures that emerging psychedelic therapies meet the highest safety standards for global implementation.

The interview traces his intellectual journey from early psychoanalytic training through rigorous neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health, where mentors Dennis Charney and Wayne Drevets encouraged him to pursue substances with rapid and robust effects. This unique combination of depth psychology and cutting-edge neuroscience positions Professor Hasler to bridge different therapeutic traditions in ways that benefit the entire international psychiatric community.

His book, Higher Self: Psychedelics in Psychotherapy, synthesizes years of clinical experience and research wisdom, proposing bold visions for the future of mental healthcare that resonate with practitioners worldwide. Recognized with prestigious honors including the NARSAD Independent Investigator Award and the Robert Bing Award from the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Hasler demonstrates how rigorous science can coexist with compassionate clinical practice.

Ensuring Safe Integration into Global Healthcare Systems

Perhaps most crucially, the interview addresses how psychedelic therapies can be safely integrated into mainstream medicine worldwide. Professor Hasler emphasizes the critical distinction between scientific research and wholesale legalization, advocating for careful, evidence-based approaches that maximize therapeutic benefit while minimizing potential harm. His current research focuses on clinical applications for depression, trauma-related disorders, and even post-stroke neurorehabilitation, expanding the potential impact of these treatments across multiple medical disciplines.

The Genomic Press platform, accessible at https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/, provides open-access dissemination of such groundbreaking research, ensuring that scientific advances reach researchers and clinicians globally regardless of geographic or economic barriers. This commitment to open science accelerates the translation of discoveries into practical treatments that can benefit patients everywhere.

What safeguards must be established as psychedelic therapies move from research settings to clinical practice worldwide? Professor Hasler addresses this crucial question, drawing on his extensive experience to outline frameworks that protect patients while preserving therapeutic innovation.

Personal Insights Illuminate Scientific Vision

The interview reveals personal dimensions that humanize this scientific pioneer. Professor Hasler credits his father, a mathematician-economist who recognized depression as the primary cause of human suffering and economic burden, with inspiring his career trajectory. This early influence instilled a conviction that improving mental health treatments represents one of the most meaningful contributions to human welfare.

His current research centers on understanding how psychedelics influence consciousness, neuroplasticity, and brain function through advanced neuroimaging techniques. By combining molecular psychiatry with clinical observation, his teams are decoding the mechanisms that make psychedelic therapy uniquely effective for conditions that have resisted conventional treatment approaches.

When asked about his hopes for the field, Professor Hasler envisions treatments that do not merely suppress symptoms but open pathways for personal growth, recovery, and development. This perspective could make psychiatry more appealing to young doctors and researchers while improving its public image and attracting crucial research funding. As he notes, the psychedelic renaissance coinciding with the peak of his career offers a rare opportunity to participate in a transformative moment that will reshape mental healthcare for generations.

Professor Gregor Hasler's Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today's most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist's impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas – Genomic Press Interview series can be found on our publications website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/.

The Genomic Press Interview in Psychedelics titled “Gregor Hasler: Three Guiding Questions—How do psychedelics shape the brain? How can they heal psychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD? How can we ensure their safe and responsible use?”  How can we ensure their safe and responsible use?," is freely available via Open Access on 2 September 2025 in Psychedelics at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/pp025k.0032.

About Psychedelics: Psychedelics: The Journal of Psychedelic and Psychoactive Drug Research (ISSN: 2997-2671, online and 2997-268X, print) is a peer-reviewed medical research journal published by Genomic Press, New York. Psychedelics is dedicated to advancing knowledge across the full spectrum of consciousness altering substances, from classical psychedelics to stimulants, cannabinoids, entactogens, dissociatives, plant derived compounds, and novel compounds including drug discovery approaches. Our multidisciplinary approach encompasses molecular mechanisms, therapeutic applications, neuroscientific discoveries, and sociocultural analyses. We welcome diverse methodologies and perspectives from fundamental pharmacology and clinical studies to psychological investigations and societal-historical contexts that enhance our understanding of how these substances interact with human biology, psychology, and society.

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