A Perspective on Psychedelics as Treatments for Addictions.
David Nutt, Celia J. A. Morgan, Sukhpreet Klaire
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs March 22, 2024 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.23-00032 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy Addiction |
| Keywords | Addiction recovery Substance abuse treatment Dependency healing Addiction therapy Recovery methods Drug rehabilitation Dependency intervention Addiction medicine Behavioral health Mental health treatment Overcoming addiction Lasting recovery Novel compounds Transformative medicine Consciousness-altering treatment Psychopharmacology Entheogenic therapy Innovative therapeutics Mind-altering therapy Breakthrough therapy Single therapeutic session Brain function Psychological processing Psychological well-being Emotional healing Personal growth Self-discovery Neurobiology Deep insights Emotional breakthroughs Psychological health Innovative medicine Novel therapeutics Breakthrough treatments Cutting-edge therapy Advanced medicine Future of medicine Novel therapeutic avenue Powerful therapeutic avenue |
| Key findings | Psychedelic research for mental illness and addictions has progressed from early LSD studies to modern neuroscience, MDMA psychotherapy, and ketamine treatment, with ongoing investigation into brain mechanisms and future challenges. |
Abstract
This Perspectives piece gives a brief overview on the last 70 years of psychedelic research in relation to the treatment of mental illness with a particular focus on addictions. We briefly precis the work in the 19650s/60s that started following the discovery of LSD. Then we overview research developments over the past twenty years driven by emerging neuroscience on these agents, the rise of MDMA use in psychotherapy and the emergence of ketamine as a treatment for mental illnesses. We then briefly outline new research on the brain mechanisms of these therapeutic effects. Finally the current status of research and future challenges in the field are reviewed.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |