Clinical Research Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Adolescents Aged 16 to 17 Years: Rationale Balanced With Caution.
Jessica K Jeffrey, Marc J. Weintraub, Charles S. Grob
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.03.021 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA |
| Topics | Depression Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Adolescent mental health Clinical research Psychiatric medicine |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key points | Proposes that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is worth trialing in adolescents aged 16–17 with treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. |
Abstract
Youth today are burdened by significant mental health challenges. In 2022, 25% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years experienced a mental illness, with 20% experiencing a depressive episode, 12.5% reporting serious thoughts of suicide, and 17% meeting criteria for a substance use disorder.1 Close to 5% of adolescents experience posttraumatic stress disorder.2 Impairing psychiatric symptoms remain present in upwards of 40% of adolescents after receiving existing mental health services,3 so it is necessary to identify additional and more effective treatment options. We propose there is an acceptable benefit-to-risk calculation that supports trialing classic serotonergic psychedelics (eg, psilocybin) and phenethylamine compounds with empathogenic and entactogenic range of effects (eg, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) in combination with psychotherapy among select adolescents aged 16 to 17 years. Specifically, we propose testing these treatments among adolescents aged 16 to 17 years who are experiencing treatment-resistant manifestations of psychiatric disorders (ie, multiple failed trials of current evidence-based treatments) or psychiatric disorders that are in line with the current evidence base for adults as determined, for example, by the breakthrough designation of the US Food and Drug Administration for a particular psychedelic medicine (eg, psilocybin for major depressive disorder, MDMA for posttraumatic stress disorder).
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Learning to Let Go: A Cognitive-Behavioral Model of How Psychedelic Therapy Promotes Acceptance | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Awe: a putative mechanism underlying the effects of classic psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy | 2018 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ethical and legal issues in psychedelic harm reduction and integration therapy | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Clinical psychedelic research in adolescents: a scoping review and overview of ethical considerations The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health September 2, 2025
- Leveraging family and caregiver support in psychedelic-assisted therapy: considerations for the treatment of adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health June 4, 2025
- Sex-dependent developmental changes in behavior, brain structure, functional connectivity, and sensory perception following exposure to psilocybin during adolescence Neuropsychopharmacology February 18, 2026
- Psychedelic Therapeutics for Adolescents: Ethics, Safety, Opportunities, and Equipoise Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry July 1, 2025
- Therapeutic Potential of MDMA- and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for Adolescent Depression and Trauma. Current Psychiatry Reports February 1, 2025
and 6 more in the library
Cites 6
- Percentage of Heavy Drinking Days Following Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy vs Placebo in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder JAMA Psychiatry August 24, 2022
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences Journal of Psychopharmacology August 31, 2016
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder JAMA August 31, 2023
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study. FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry July 1, 2023
- Adolescent Drug Use in Cross-Cultural Perspective Journal of Drug Issues 1992
and 1 more in the library