Australia Legalizes Psychedelics for Use in Depression, PTSD Therapy
Psychiatric News August 15, 2023 DOI: 10.1176/appi.pn.2023.09.9.20 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | News report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA |
| Topics | Depression Psychedelic-assisted therapy PTSD |
| Keywords | Depression economics Psychotherapist Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Australia became the first country to legalize psilocybin and MDMA for prescription medical use as adjuncts in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, approving MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression effective July 1. The decision drew both excitement and concern. |
Abstract
The country is the first to make psilocybin and MDMA available for medical use by prescription as part of a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy regimen. In a move that excited some and concerned others, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) earlier this year approved the use of MDMA and psilocybin as adjuncts in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and treatment-resistant depression, respectively, effective July 1. (The TGA performs a similar function to that of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.) The move makes Australia the first nation to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin and MDMA in a controlled medical setting.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 24, 2024
- Peak Experiences Matter Journal of Humanistic Psychology April 9, 2025
- Applications of MDMA in Modern Medicine - A Literature Review Journal of Education, Health and Sport January 14, 2025