Benjamin Kelmendi, MD
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
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 Original ResearchOC symptom severitySelf-CompassionSymptom dimensionsUnacceptable thoughtsSymptom severityMeasures of self-compassionSystematic reviewAssociated with self-compassionOC symptom dimensionsSeverity of psychopathologyObsessive-compulsive symptomsLow self-compassionPeer-reviewed quantitative studiesMeta-analysisCultural orientationOC symptomsFunnel plot symmetryModeration analysisTotal symptomsRandom-effects modelIntervention studiesModerating effectPersonal sufferingPublication biasModerate heterogeneityEfficacy 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 PMID: 41706459, PMCID: PMC12917749, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.4625.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderSheehan Disability ScaleTreatment of posttraumatic stress disorderTreatment-emergent adverse eventsCAPS-5DSM-5PCL-5Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating ScaleColumbia-Suicide Severity Rating ScaleRating ScaleLoss of PTSD diagnosisPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistDepression Rating ScaleRapid-actingDSM-5 criteriaPTSD-related behaviorsSeverity Rating ScaleMental health professionalsIncidence of treatment-emergent adverse eventsPhase 1 studyMontgomery-AsbergPTSD diagnosisStress disorderRandomized clinical trialsDosing sessions
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 ResearchObsessive-compulsive disorderObsessive-compulsive disorder symptomsPsilocybin experienceInterpretative phenomenological analysisSubjective effectsTreatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorderRandomized placebo-controlled trialSubjective effects of psilocybinEffects of psilocybinEvidence-based psychotherapiesAcute effectsPhenomenological analysisModerate to strong influencePsilocybin doseBehavioral effectsTherapeutic changeHigher-order themesPlacebo-controlled trialPsilocybinNon-directive supportDouble-blindParticipants' perspectivesDisordersAcute interferenceParticipantsMethylone 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 ResearchPost-traumatic stress disorderFear extinction learningStructural neuroplasticityExtinction learningBehavioral effectsTreatment of post-traumatic stress disorderEffects of methyloneInhibitors of monoamine transportersStress disorderRecall memoryBrain areasNeuroplastic effectsMonoamine transportersNeuroplasticityDebilitating disorderMethyloneTrkB receptorsNeurite outgrowthCultured cortical neuronsFunctional enrichment analysisDisordersMemoryRNA-seqFearClinical trialsA 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 Original ResearchPragmatic barriersMental health treatmentClinical trialsEvidence-based researchMedical mistrustHealth treatmentCommunity outreachStudy teamRetention strategiesGender diverse populationsTherapeutic potentialDiverse populationsEffectiveness researchSchedule inflexibilityDiverse participantsQueer communityCultural attunementConsciousness-altering effectsIncome disparities
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 ResearchConceptsAdvanced practice practitionersSymptoms of depressionMontgomery-Asberg Depression Rating ScalePosttraumatic stress disorderSymptoms of burnoutMontgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scoreSymptoms of posttraumatic stress disorderFrontline carePsilocybin therapyRandomized clinical trialsSevere symptoms of depressionMental health diagnosesScore changesImprove symptoms of depressionCOVID-19 pandemicPCL-5Intention-to-treat principleMedication sessionsDepression Rating ScalePCL-5 scoresPsychological morbidityHealth diagnosisMain OutcomesPractice practitionersUS cliniciansNovel 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 Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderStress disorderPathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorderNon-trauma-focused psychotherapyTrauma-focused psychotherapySomatic treatment approachesEvidence-based treatmentsAntidepressant medicationSomatic treatmentsPsychiatric disordersSomatic interventionsTranscranial magnetic stimulationPsychotherapyMagnetic stimulationTreatment approachesDisordersRecommended first-line treatmentAdultsFirst-line treatmentMedicationMechanism of actionMonotherapy strategySalienceSpecific treatmentEvidencePsychedelic 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 ResearchResidency trainingTraining psychiatry residentsAvailability of facultyTraining directorsRespondents answered questionsPsychedelic medicineEndorsed concernsResidency training directorsResidency program directorsPsychiatry residency training directorsEducational materialsPsychiatry residency trainingPsychiatry residentsProgram directorsPsychiatric educationOnline surveyStandard curriculumEducation providersCurricular materialsEducational opportunitiesTrainingPsychedelic interventionsEducationSurveyMedicineMechanisms 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 ResearchConceptsObsessive-compulsive disorderMechanisms of therapeutic changeAversive eventsImagery rescriptingPsychedelic treatmentPsychotherapeutic treatmentPsychotherapeutic frameworkSymptom reductionTherapeutic changePsychotherapyNegative emotionsPsychological mechanismsCore beliefsPilot dataNovel treatmentRescriptingEmotionsDisordersSymptomsReprocessingTreatmentBeliefsResistance to first-lineIndividualsInterventionCorrigendum: Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Ching T, Amoroso L, Bohner C, D'Amico E, Eilbott J, Entezar T, Fitzpatrick M, Fram G, Grazioplene R, Hokanson J, Jankovsky A, Kichuk S, Martins B, Patel P, Schaer H, Shnayder S, Witherow C, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Corrigendum: Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2024, 15: 1372373. PMID: 38435972, PMCID: PMC10905264, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1372373.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Psilocybin in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (uAspire)
IRB ID2000037179RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsEffects of Repeated Psilocybin Dosing in OCD
IRB ID2000032623RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 65 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 Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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