Lancet Psychiatry
October 1, 2020
Brian T Anderson, Alicia Danforth, Charles S. Grob
99 citations
The text discusses safety and ethical concerns surrounding psychedelic medicine, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight, comprehensive patient screening, robust therapeutic support, and informed consent to mitigate risks such as psychological distress and misuse. It highlights the ethical imperative for equitable access and responsible medical use as these powerful medicines are integrated into clinical practice.
Neuropsychopharmacology
July 21, 2023
Jennifer Mitchell, Brian T Anderson
47 citations
Over the last five years, clinical research into psychedelic medicines has expanded rapidly, with data from a Phase 3 industry trial, a multicenter Phase 2 industry trial, and multiple early-phase trials now published in peer-reviewed journals. This narrative review summarizes recent findings and ongoing clinical trials involving various classes of psyche-manifesting substances that may help treat a broad range of conditions. The review also discusses methodological considerations, unique challenges, and next steps for research, emphasizing the experiential nature of these therapies.
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
January 1, 2023
C Bree Johnston, Maria Mangini, Charles S. Grob et al.
33 citations
Psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA show promise for treating mood disorders, PTSD, prolonged grief, and psychological distress from serious illness in older adults, and may aid dementia patients or promote personal growth in healthy seniors. Both compounds act on the 5HT2A receptor and can be safely given to healthy adults under controlled conditions, but they raise blood pressure and heart rate, posing risks for older adults with cardiovascular disease. Few older adults or those with multiple health conditions have been included in clinical trials, limiting generalizability. More research is needed on safety and efficacy in this population.
Am J Psychiatry
January 1, 2024
Kelley C. O’donnell, Brian T Anderson, Frederick S. Barrett et al.
31 citations
This critical response addresses misinterpretations and omissions in a commentary by Goodwin and colleagues on psilocybin-assisted therapy, arguing that the commentary misrepresents existing evidence and overlooks key methodological issues. The authors contend that the commentary fails to adequately discuss safety concerns, including adverse events and the potential for psychological distress, and omits important data on long-term outcomes. They emphasize the need for rigorous, balanced evaluation of psilocybin-assisted therapy's risks and benefits, cautioning against overstating positive outcomes while underreporting negative findings. The response calls for more transparent reporting and careful interpretation of clinical trial results.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
January 1, 2022
David B. Yaden, Sandeep M. Nayak, Natalie Gukasyan et al.
31 citations
End-of-life and palliative care have improved, but psychopharmacological options for depression, existential distress, and well-being remain limited. This review examines recent clinical research on psychedelics for patients with life-threatening diagnoses and proposes that psychedelics could offer clinicians an additional treatment option in end-of-life and palliative care settings.
Int J Drug Policy
March 27, 2012
Brian T Anderson, Beatriz C. Labate, Matthew Meyer et al.
26 citations
No Summary
The journal of pain
October 1, 2022
Robert H. Dworkin, Brian T Anderson, Nick Andrews et al.
22 citations
Psychedelic substances have been used historically for spiritual and mystical experiences, and recent interest focuses on their potential to treat chronic pain. Clinical trials support psychedelics' effectiveness for psychiatric conditions, but studies on chronic pain—such as cancer pain, phantom limb pain, migraine, and cluster headache—are few and mostly uncontrolled. Risks are relatively rare with careful patient screening and supervision. Key challenges include identifying mechanisms of action, selecting appropriate pain conditions, designing rigorous trials with proper control groups, minimizing unblinding bias, and accounting for patient mindset and setting. Evidence-based recommendations are needed for future research to yield informative results.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2023
Julian Urrutia, Brian T Anderson, Sean J Belouin et al.
21 citations
Combining psychedelic science, contemplative practices, and Indigenous and other traditional knowledge systems in integrative, community-based models of care could transform global health. Both contemplative practices and certain psychedelic substances reliably induce self-transcendent experiences that positively affect health, well-being, and prosocial behavior, and combining them appears synergistic. Traditional knowledge systems offer ethnobotanical expertise and time-tested practices. A decolonized agenda for psychedelic research requires collaborative engagement with traditional knowledge stewards to co-develop evidence-based integrative care accessible to their communities. Health systems could include Indigenous and traditional healers as stakeholders in designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based approaches for safely scaling psychedelic treatments.
Psychiatr Res Clin Pract
February 11, 2025
Jules Evans, Marc Aixalà, Brian T Anderson et al.
18 citations
Thirty psychedelic researchers identified critical gaps in knowledge about harms from psychedelic use, including how to define those harms, predict them, and treat them effectively. They recommend better online information, peer support groups, affordable therapy, and psychiatric consultation for people experiencing post-psychedelic difficulties. The researchers also call for improved funding for a psychedelic safety net, suggesting that psychedelic philanthropists, investors, and companies commit 1% of their investment to support safety measures such as research and support services. The article outlines practical steps to make the field of psychedelic medicine safer.
Nature Mental Health
May 1, 2025
Daniel H. Grossman, Kevin R. Madden, Nicky J. Mehtani et al.
10 citations
Socioeconomic status (SES) strongly affects mental health outcomes and treatment access, but its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials is inadequate. A systematic review of 98 articles (49 primary trials and 49 secondary analyses) from 2006 to 2024 found that only 12% of primary trials reported participant income data, and 31% reported educational attainment. In US-based trials, participants had markedly higher SES than the general population: 93% had some college education (versus 62% nationally), and median incomes in major trials substantially exceeded the national median for all workers. Non-US trials showed variable patterns. This underreporting and evidence of socioeconomic disparities highlights an urgent need for standardized SES reporting and strategies to improve socioeconomic diversity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research.
Biological Psychiatry
May 1, 2019
Brian T Anderson, Alicia Danforth, Robert Daroff et al.
5 citations
No Summary
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
June 10, 2025
Torsten Passie, Anja Loizaga-Velder, Alicia Danforth et al.
4 citations
A consensus-based model curriculum for education and training in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAP) covers theoretical topics and practical components including apprenticeship observation, ongoing clinical supervision, and self-experience for trainees. The model, developed by authors with extensive SAP experience, also addresses peer and conventional supervision, respect for intercultural differences, and teachings about indigenous use of related substances. It is largely adapted to western industrialized countries with established graduate-level psychotherapy training. The curriculum may be valuable for psychedelic researchers, those training therapists for research studies, and those preparing for clinical work outside research settings.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
January 1, 2024
Kelan Thomas, Robert L. Jesse, Nicky J. Mehtani et al.
4 citations
Policymakers are increasingly using clinical trial data to justify deprioritizing, decriminalizing, or legalizing psychedelic substances, but personal possession limits written into law often lack scientific grounding. This commentary argues that allowable amounts should be based on moderate-high doses shown safe and effective in clinical trials, common naturalistic use, and dose-equivalence studies. The authors provide a table of evidence-informed moderate-high doses for seven psychedelics to guide consistent and equitable policy limits, aiming to replace arbitrary thresholds with scientifically justified ones.
April 8, 2016
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos, Brian T Anderson et al.
2 citations
Ayahuasca, used ritually in South American religions such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal and in Amazonian rehabilitation centers, shows therapeutic potential for treating substance dependence. Anthropological and psychiatric data indicate that ritual ayahuasca use can aid healing from addiction. The chapter reviews evidence from these settings and discusses methodological, ethical, and political considerations for future research. It places current studies in the context of psychedelic and psycholytic therapies developed between the 1950s and 1970s, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to understand ayahuasca's role in dependence treatment.
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
March 1, 2026
William B Alexander, Eric D Hansen, Brian T Anderson et al.
1 citation
Loss of meaning is a hallmark of demoralization syndrome, a prevalent condition in palliative care linked to diminished quality of life, increased symptom burden, and higher suicide risk. Existential psychological interventions improve psychosocial outcomes, but evidence for their effect on demoralization is limited. Psychedelic therapies, which enhance meaning-making and integrate existential approaches, show promise for existential distress and demoralization in early clinical trials. Novel combined pharmacological and psychological interventions like psychedelic therapy warrant further investigation.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
January 30, 2026
Veronica Magar, Marlena Robbins, Óscar Martín López Fernández Lobo Blanco et al.
1 citation
Indigenous Peoples have long stewarded natural psychoactive medicines through ceremony and kinship, yet their contributions are often marginalized in psychedelic science. This commentary argues for reciprocal collaboration grounded in Indigenous sovereignty, cultural rights, and governance. Drawing on traditions involving ayahuasca, psilocybin, peyote, and iboga, it illustrates how Indigenous methodologies offer critical insights for safety and efficacy. The authors call for embedding free, prior, and informed consent, equitable benefit-sharing, and Indigenous leadership in research and policy, moving beyond tokenism toward systemic change. They conclude by urging formal, transparent convening processes modeled on WHO global consultations to bring Indigenous leaders, researchers, and policymakers together.
Journal of Health Service Psychology
December 1, 2025
Philip Garrity, Alicia Danforth, Brian T Anderson et al.
1 citation
Psilocybin shows promise in enhancing well-being for patients with terminal illnesses. In a clinical trial involving 50 participants, 80% reported significant improvements in existential distress and quality of life after receiving psilocybin therapy. This innovative approach combines traditional medicine with psychosocial support, suggesting that psychedelics can bridge gaps in palliative care. Participants also experienced altered interpretations of their pain and meaning in life, highlighting the potential of integrating psychedelics into psychological practice to address deep-seated beliefs and existential concerns.
J Psychoactive Drugs
November 10, 2025
Nicky J. Mehtani, Maha N. Mian, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes et al.
1 citation
A novel approach combines psychedelic therapy with 12-step programs to improve engagement in community-based recovery from substance use disorders. The authors argue that psychedelics may enhance openness, spiritual experiences, and social bonding, which could increase participation in 12-step meetings and practices. This accessible strategy aims to leverage existing recovery communities, potentially broadening treatment options without requiring extensive clinical infrastructure. The paper presents a theoretical framework for integrating these modalities, suggesting that such augmentation could improve outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, though empirical evidence is not provided.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
May 1, 2026
Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Ralph C. Wang, Allison R. Coker et al.
From 2002 to 2019, first-time use of any hallucinogen among US civilians aged 12 and older averaged 0.71% per year, with a small but statistically significant increase (odds ratio 1.009 per year). New use decreased among 12- to 17-year-olds (OR 0.96) and increased among those 65 and older (OR 1.56). LSD showed a notable rise (OR 1.08 per year), while psilocybin and MDMA did not. From 2021 to 2023, 0.79% reported new hallucinogen use, with no overall change (OR 0.97). Patterns of first-time use vary by substance and age group, with adolescents using less and older adults using more.
Palliative Medicine Reports
January 1, 2026
Hannah Whitmore, Maria Mangini, Heather Leutwyler et al.
Group psilocybin-assisted therapy may help older long-term AIDS survivor gay men accept death, dying, and impermanence, as well as their illness and complex emotions. This secondary qualitative analysis of interviews from six participants found three major themes: acceptance of death, acceptance of illness, and embracing complex emotions. The findings suggest that the therapy fosters death acceptance by helping participants accept their illness and engage with the full range of emotions that arise when facing mortality. Further studies are needed to validate these results, which highlight the importance of focusing on death acceptance in psychedelic research with seriously ill populations.
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
November 22, 2025
Maha N. Mian, Allison R. Coker, Grace Kretzer et al.
Communities that use psychedelics as religious sacraments have developed their own frameworks for safety and hold distinct views on risk and harm. To better understand their lived realities, researchers can collaborate closely with these communities using community-based participatory research (CBPR) practices, which center communities in co-creating research, improve engagement, build trust, and highlight local priorities. This paper presents preliminary findings from a CBPR study with entheogenic communities, sharing lessons learned from forming a community advisory board and initial pilot data gathering. Lessons include consulting community engagement experts, considerations for compensation and confidentiality, using multimodal recruitment strategies, and recognizing the unique historical context of these communities. These lessons aim to develop best practices for psychedelic research, policy, and public education.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
April 15, 2026
Hannah Whitmore, Brian T Anderson, Elena Flowers et al.
A scoping review of studies from 1990 to 2023 suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy may lead to significant and lasting reductions in anxiety, depression, and existential distress among terminally ill patients. These improvements appear to be mediated by enhanced death acceptance. The therapy may also increase psychological flexibility and reduce demoralization, supporting better mental health outcomes. The review concludes that psychedelic-assisted therapy represents a promising approach to improving quality of life for terminally ill patients by fostering acceptance of their prognosis and mortality, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.