Benjamin Kelmendi, MD
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
α2-Adrenergic receptor modulates 5-HT2A-mediated behavioral effects of MDMA and psilocybin in mice
Rosado A, Yu A, Yang J, Rondeau J, Floris G, Basu A, Staszko S, Dibbs M, Feng J, Li Y, Warner-Schmidt J, Kelmendi B, Krystal J, Pittenger C, Kwan A, Kaye A. α2-Adrenergic receptor modulates 5-HT2A-mediated behavioral effects of MDMA and psilocybin in mice. Molecular Psychiatry 2026, 1-12. PMID: 42414551, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-026-03713-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEfficacy and Safety of the Neuroplastogen TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD
Jones A, Warner-Schmidt J, Kwak H, Stogniew M, Mandell B, Ching T, Stein M, Kelmendi B. Efficacy and Safety of the Neuroplastogen TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD. JAMA Psychiatry 2026, 83: 469-477. PMID: 41706459, PMCID: PMC12917749, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.4625.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates TSND-201, a rapid-acting neuroplastogen, showing significant, durable reductions in PTSD symptoms and good safety, supporting its potential as an effective treatment.The association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and self-compassion: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Shnayder S, Funaro M, Ching T, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B, Adams T, Agin-Liebes G. The association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and self-compassion: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2026, 405: 121546. PMID: 41796771, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121546.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsThis study investigates the link between self-compassion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, finding that lower self-compassion correlates with higher symptom severity, especially intrusive moral thoughts, suggesting therapeutic potential.
2025
Acute and post-dosing effects of single-dose psilocybin for obsessive-compulsive disorder in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Ching T, Stahnke B, Shnayder S, Agin-Liebes G, Adams T, Amoroso L, Baiz O, Belser A, Bohner C, Burke M, D’Amico E, DePalmer G, Eilbott J, Fram G, Grazioplene R, Hokanson J, Jankovsky A, Kichuk S, Martins B, Purohit P, Schaer H, Sierra Y, Witherow C, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Acute and post-dosing effects of single-dose psilocybin for obsessive-compulsive disorder in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2025, 16: 1726818. PMID: 41450831, PMCID: PMC12728583, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1726818.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates the effects of single-dose psilocybin on treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder, finding symptom reductions linked to insights, emotional shifts, and improved psychological flexibility.Methylone promotes neurite outgrowth and has long-lasting effects on fear extinction learning
Warner-Schmidt J, Stogniew M, Mandell B, Kelmendi B. Methylone promotes neurite outgrowth and has long-lasting effects on fear extinction learning. Neuropsychopharmacology 2025, 51: 631-640. PMID: 40849539, PMCID: PMC12823647, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-025-02206-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA primer for culturally attuned psychedelic clinical trials
Ching T, Kelmendi B. A primer for culturally attuned psychedelic clinical trials. Journal Of Psychedelic Studies 2025, 9: 169-182. DOI: 10.1556/2054.2025.00394.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
2024
Psilocybin Therapy for Clinicians With Symptoms of Depression From Frontline Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Back A, Freeman-Young T, Morgan L, Sethi T, Baker K, Myers S, McGregor B, Harvey K, Tai M, Kollefrath A, Thomas B, Sorta D, Kaelen M, Kelmendi B, Gooley T. Psilocybin Therapy for Clinicians With Symptoms of Depression From Frontline Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2449026. PMID: 39636638, PMCID: PMC11621983, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.49026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNovel Pharmacologic and Other Somatic Treatment Approaches for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults: State of the Evidence
Sippel L, Hamblen J, Kelmendi B, Alpert J, Carpenter L, Grzenda A, Kraguljac N, McDonald W, Rodriguez C, Widge A, Nemeroff C, Schnurr P, Holtzheimer P, Biomarkers and Treatments T. Novel Pharmacologic and Other Somatic Treatment Approaches for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults: State of the Evidence. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 181: 1045-1058. PMID: 39616450, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230950.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsPsychedelic medicine in psychiatry residency training: a survey of psychiatric residency program directors
Yaden M, Ching T, Goldway N, Roberts D, Hokanson J, Gukasyan N, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B, Ross S, Glick G, O’Donnell K. Psychedelic medicine in psychiatry residency training: a survey of psychiatric residency program directors. International Review Of Psychiatry 2024, 36: 902-907. PMID: 39980219, DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2024.2397039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMechanisms of therapeutic change after psychedelic treatment in OCD
Maloney G, Ching T, Kichuk S, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Mechanisms of therapeutic change after psychedelic treatment in OCD. Psychiatry Research 2024, 336: 115907. PMID: 38615521, PMCID: PMC11190873, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115907.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase 3 Trial to Assess CYB003 (Psilocybin) in Major Depressive Disorder (EMBRACE)
IRB ID2000040270RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/18/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 85 yearsObsessions or ideations: First Person Suicide Images study in OCD
IRB ID2000033121RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsUsing Neuroimaging to track symptom change in PTSD treatment
IRB ID2000025892RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2029Recruiting ParticipantsImaging Synaptic Density in Cocaine and Opiate Addiction In Vivo using 11C-UCB-J PET
IRB ID2000021843RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2024Recruiting ParticipantsImaging smoking-induced dopamine release utilizing PET imaging and nicotine patches
IRB ID2000023239RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/31/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 years
News
News
- September 24, 2025Source: Yale News
Psilocybin: A Breakthrough in Mental Health Treatment or Mere ‘Magical’ Thinking?
- May 23, 2024Source: Psychology Today
Psychedelics: Subjectivity in the Therapeutic Response
- January 02, 2024
Duek, Harpaz-Rotem Paper Named '2023 Leading Research Achievement' by BBRF
- June 21, 2023Source: Neuropsychopharmacology
Long term Structural and Functional Neural Changes Following a Single Infusion of Ketamine in PTSD