Anahita Bassir Nia, MD
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
The 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, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116446.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid 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 consumptionHungerAmygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
Korem N, Hillmer A, D’Souza D, Nia A, Levy I, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Amygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2432387. PMID: 39250156, PMCID: PMC11385051, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study
Mohammad Aghaei A, Urban Spillane L, Pittman B, Flynn L, De Aquino J, Bassir Nia A, Ranganathan M. Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study. Psychopharmacology 2024, 241: 2145-2155. PMID: 38832949, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06625-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRey Auditory Verbal Learning TestCannabis use disorderHuman laboratory studiesOral tetrahydrocannabinolPsychoactive effectsSex differencesAuditory Verbal Learning TestDissociative Symptoms ScalePsychotomimetic States InventoryExposure to cannabisVerbal Learning TestPlacebo-controlledIncreased cannabis useInvestigate sex differencesClinician-AdministeredVerbal learningPsychotomimetic effectsCannabinoid effectsLearning TestCannabis useTetrahydrocannabinol dosesEffects of sexUse disorderDose-related effectsIndividual vulnerabilityPsychotherapeutic Interventions in Clinical Trials of Psychedelics for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Mohammad Aghaei A, Weleff J, Martins B, Ing K, Fontenele R, Barnett B, Anand A, Bassir Nia A. Psychotherapeutic Interventions in Clinical Trials of Psychedelics for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. Current Addiction Reports 2024, 11: 685-712. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-024-00574-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTreatment of AUDUse disorderTreatment of alcohol use disordersModalities of psychotherapyAlcohol use disorderPsychedelic treatmentPsychotherapeutic interventionsTreat AUDPsychedelic compoundsPsychedelic trialsPsychotherapySmall numbers of participantsPsychedelicsMagnitude of improvementMethodological shortcomingsAUDNumbers of participantsClinical trialsDisordersReviewed trialsShort follow-up periodFollow-up periodTherapy methodsEmpirical evidenceNo significant difference
2023
Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system following opioid exposure
Mohammad Aghaei A, Saali A, Canas M, Weleff J, D'Souza D, Angarita G, Bassir Nia A. Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system following opioid exposure. Psychiatry Research 2023, 330: 115586. PMID: 37931479, PMCID: PMC10842415, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115586.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEndocannabinoid systemECS componentsBrain regionsNovel neurobiological targetsTreatment of OUDEndogenous opioid systemOpioid-related deathsEndogenous cannabinoid systemSpecific brain regionsECS dysregulationOpioid exposureOUD treatmentOpioid systemCannabinoid systemNeurobiological targetsNew medicationsPreclinical literatureCannabinoid receptorsEndogenous ligandTherapeutic potentialStudy typePresent potential targetsExposure protocolOpioidsPreclinical research
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 ParticipantsThe endogenous cannabinoid system in Individuals with opioid use disorder and healthy: A brain imaging study
HIC ID2000033525RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsIntensive 7-day Treatment for PTSD Combining Ketamine With Exposure Therapy (PTSD)
HIC ID1509016530RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/01/2030Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 70 yearsImaging Cannabinoid Receptors Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning
HIC ID1005006735RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2016Recruiting ParticipantsGenderMaleAge18 years - 55 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- 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
- July 24, 2023Source: Globe Newswire
Bassir Nia the PI for Test of Compound in Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Get In Touch
Contacts
Mailing Address
Psychiatry
950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT
West Haven, Connecticut 06516
United States