Interest in psilocybin and psychedelic therapy, measured by Google search volume, increased at higher rates after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared than before it. Searches for depression, anxiety, and addiction also rose during the pandemic. After an initial drop in searches for most terms when the pandemic began, interest in psilocybin and psychedelic therapy grew steadily and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In contrast, interest in antidepressants returned to pre-pandemic levels without exceeding them. The findings suggest that public interest in psychedelic treatments may be linked to rising mental health concerns, but could also be driven by media coverage and novelty.
Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for psychiatric illnesses, but its federal illegality in the U.S. complicates access and regulation despite state-level decriminalization efforts. This article reviews current legal regulation, standard of care, right to effective treatment, and the respectable minority doctrine. It discusses ethical issues including provider bias, patient-provider dynamics, informed consent, and equity and access that psychiatrists must consider as psilocybin access expands for research.
Interest in psilocybin and psychedelic therapy, measured by Google search volume, increased at higher rates and to higher levels after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared than before. Searches for depression, anxiety, and addiction also rose during the pandemic, but only psilocybin and psychedelic therapy showed a sustained upward trend beyond prepandemic levels. Antidepressant searches initially dropped then returned to baseline, while cannabis and cocaine searches remained stable or declined. The authors suggest the increased interest in psychedelics may be partly driven by rising mental health needs and popular culture hype.