Anahita Bassir Nia, MD
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
The Potential Therapeutic Effects of MEAI in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Ekhlasi M, Frytz A, Bassir Nia A. The Potential Therapeutic Effects of MEAI in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. Current Addiction Reports 2025, 12: 88. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-025-00700-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTreatment of alcohol use disordersTherapeutic effectVariable oral bioavailabilityAlcohol use disorderTreatment of AUDPharmacological profileOral bioavailabilitySummaryPreliminary evidenceClassic psychedelicsLife-threatening disorderAbuse potentialPotential treatment optionUse disorderSerotonin receptorsSaturation of metabolic enzymesMDMAPotential therapeutic effectsPsilocybinPsychedelicsRelapse rateSafety profilePreclinical studiesTreatment optionsMEAIClinical studiesVirtual reality and psychedelics: new perspectives and new possibilities in the treatment of alcohol use disorder
Matthews S, Greco A, Rastelli C, Nia A. Virtual reality and psychedelics: new perspectives and new possibilities in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2025, 16: 1448043. PMID: 41323491, PMCID: PMC12657485, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1448043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol use disorderPsychedelic-assisted therapyUse disorderTreatment of alcohol use disordersSubstance use disordersClinical implementationPsychedelic dosePsychedelic treatmentPsychedelic therapySerotonergic psychedelicsBehavioral markersPotential clinical applicationsPsychedelicsEffective pharmacotherapyHealthy subjectsTherapeutic settingTherapyDisordersClinical applicationClinical researchTreatmentPublished studiesVirtual reality simulatorCondition datePlaceboCannabinoid 1 receptor availability in posttraumatic stress disorder: A positron emission tomography study
Korem N, Bassir Nia A, Hillmer A, D’Souza D, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Cosgrove K, Levy I, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Cannabinoid 1 receptor availability in posttraumatic stress disorder: A positron emission tomography study. Translational Psychiatry 2025, 15: 310. PMID: 40846835, PMCID: PMC12373994, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03519-9.BooksPathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorderEmotional numbing symptomsCB1R availabilityPosttraumatic stress disorderEndocannabinoid systemStress disorderPositron emission tomographyTrauma-exposed participantsEndocannabinoid system's rolePositron emission tomography studiesCannabinoid receptor 1Emission tomography studiesMulti-faceted disorderFear learningCB1RSymptom expressionHealthy controlsCannabinoidDisordersTomography studiesEmission tomographyPreclinical studiesSymptomsHigher levelsReceptor 1Changes in Local Community Spatial Trends of Motor Vehicle Accidents Near Cannabis Dispensaries after Recreational Cannabis Legalization
Weleff J, Golsorkhi M, Griffin M, Nia A, Mathis W. Changes in Local Community Spatial Trends of Motor Vehicle Accidents Near Cannabis Dispensaries after Recreational Cannabis Legalization. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research 2025 PMID: 40779507, DOI: 10.1177/25785125251366791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMotor vehicle accidentsRecreational cannabis legalizationDiscussion:Cannabis dispensariesRecreational cannabis dispensariesAccident rateCannabis legalizationResults:Interrupted time series analysisStatewide analysisDifference-in-differences analysisMixed-effects regression modelsNegative binomial mixed-effects modelMotor vehicle accident ratesNegative binomial regressionVehicle accident ratesImpact of recreational cannabis legalizationBinomial mixed-effects modelDispensary levelMethods:Crash dataBinomial regressionRoad safetyMixed-effects modelsVehicle accidentsThe Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review
Shafie M, Ing K, Rostam‐Abadi Y, Weleff J, Griffin M, Ranganathan M, Aghaei A, Pratt N, Funaro M, Nia A. The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Addiction Biology 2025, 30: e70047. PMID: 40415392, PMCID: PMC12104536, DOI: 10.1111/adb.70047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOUD outcomesUse disorderConditioned place preference paradigmPlace preference paradigmReducing withdrawal symptomsPotential of cannabidiolSubstance use disordersEfficacy of cannabidiolTreatment of opioid use disorderPreclinical studiesClinical studiesOpioid use disorder treatmentPreference paradigmAnxiety symptomsWithdrawal symptomsPsychiatric disordersEffective treatment approachTreatment optionsHuman studiesCannabidiolAnimal studiesSystematic reviewShort-term follow-upCraving611. Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Availability in Men With Opioid Use Disorder: A Positron Emission Tomography Study
Nia A, Hillmer A, Aghaei A, Pittman B, Huang H, Nabulsi N, D'Souza D. 611. Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Availability in Men With Opioid Use Disorder: A Positron Emission Tomography Study. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s350. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.850.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe therapeutic effects of psychedelics for opioid use disorder: A systematic review of clinical studies
Weleff J, Pulido-Saavedra A, Aghaei A, Ing K, Arakelian M, Fontenele R, Nero N, Barnett B, Anand A, Bassir Nia A, Angarita G. The therapeutic effects of psychedelics for opioid use disorder: A systematic review of clinical studies. Psychiatry Research 2025, 348: 116446. PMID: 40147088, PMCID: PMC12306858, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116446.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsOpioid use disorderStudies of psychedelicsSystematic review of clinical studiesUse disorderReview of clinical studiesTherapeutic effects of psychedelicsEffects of psychedelicsOpioid receptor systemApplications of psychedelicsClinical studiesMu-opioid receptorsNaturalistic studySerotonergic psychedelicsOpioid withdrawalPlacebo-controlled trialPsychedelicsSubstance useUnited States Food and Drug AdministrationStates Food and Drug AdministrationMu-opioidFood and Drug AdministrationSystematic reviewReceptor systemClinical study designDouble-blindThe Contribution of Psychotherapy in Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
Bassir Nia A, Farahmand Y, Griffith G, Ardavan M, Angarita G, Anand A, Pittenger C. The Contribution of Psychotherapy in Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelics for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Current Addiction Reports 2025, 12: 20. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-025-00638-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffects of psychedelicsOpioid use disorderConcurrent psychotherapyUse disorderTherapeutic effects of psychedelicsContribution of psychotherapyImpact of psychedelicsSubstance use disordersOpioid withdrawal symptomsTreatment of opioid use disorderFDA-approved medicationsOpioid use disorder treatmentPsychotherapy modalitiesPsychedelic treatmentPsychotherapy componentWithdrawal symptomsPsychotherapyPsychedelic trialsTherapy modelPsychedelicsAcute effectsDisordersAssociated with higher ratesTreatment discontinuationPotential therapeutic effectsEffects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies
Pulido-Saavedra A, Oliva H, Prudente T, Kitaneh R, Nunes E, Fogg C, Funaro M, Weleff J, Nia A, Angarita G. Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2025, 82: 49. PMID: 39833376, PMCID: PMC11747050, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05519-2.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disorderPreclinical studiesClinical studiesReview of preclinical studiesConditioned place preferenceOpioid Self-AdministrationEffects of psychedelicsPreclinical in vivo studiesOpioid use disorder treatmentFrequency of administrationPlace preferencePotential therapeutic effectsSelf-AdministrationWithdrawal symptomsPreclinical findingsMechanism of actionSafety profilePain studiesPsychedelicsMethodological quality assessmentClinical evidenceCardiovascular riskOpioidWeb of Science
2024
Endocannabinoid Signaling and Food Addiction
Bassir Nia A, D’souza D. Endocannabinoid Signaling and Food Addiction. 2024, 146-156. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780190671051.003.0017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchECB systemFood addictionFood reward processingReward processingAbstract CannabisEndogenous cannabinoidsIncreased food consumptionHedonic aspectsHigh-fat foodsCannabisAddictionStimulate appetiteStimulating effectFood intakeECBAnecdotal reportsClinical studiesPsychopathologyAppetiteCannabinoidExocannabinoidsMunchyEvidenceFood consumptionHunger
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase I/II Single and Multiple Dose Tolerability, Safety and Pharmacokinetic Study of CMND-100 in Healthy Volunteers and Subjects with Binge Drinking/ Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
HIC ID2000035043RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsCan virtual reality help with psychedelic research?
HIC ID2000038121RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsThe Potential Therapeutic Effects of Psychedelic, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
HIC ID2000035937RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsThe endogenous cannabinoid system in Individuals with opioid use disorder and healthy: A brain imaging study
HIC ID2000033525RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsBrain Changes and Cannabis Use Study
HIC ID2000032181RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 75 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- September 09, 2025
Bassir Nia, Bandler Selected to Receive ACNP 2025 Travel Awards
- November 18, 2024
Bassir Nia Chosen to Participate in ACNP Early-Stage Investigator Assistance Program
- May 13, 2024Source: Current Addiction Reports
Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Clinical Trials of Psychedelics for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
- August 16, 2023
Four Yale Psychiatry Researchers Awarded Grants to Study Alcohol Use Disorder
Get In Touch
Contacts
Mailing Address
Psychiatry
950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT
West Haven, Connecticut 06516
United States