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Can psychedelic compounds play a part in drug dependence therapy?

Ben Sessa, Matthew W. Johnson

The British Journal of Psychiatry 2015 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.148031 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Population Patients with substance dependency
Interventions Psilocybin Ketamine Ibogaine Ayahuasca
Topics Ayahuasca Ketamine Psilocybin Addiction Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Keywords Hallucinogen Drug Psychotherapist Pharmacology
Citations 58
Key findings Psychedelic drug therapy is being revisited in psychiatry for treating drug dependence, though clinical and legal limitations remain.

Abstract

Summary After a 40-year hiatus there is now a revisiting of psychedelic drug therapy throughout psychiatry, with studies examining the drugs psilocybin, ketamine, ibogaine and ayahuasca in the treatment of drug dependence. Limitations to these therapies are both clinical and legal, but the possibility of improving outcomes for patients with substance dependency imposes an obligation to research this area.

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