Psychedelics: Science sabotaged by Social Media
Edward M. Sellers, Myroslava K. Romach
Neuropharmacology January 21, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109426 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Dosing Mental health Pharmacology Public relations |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Microdosing psychedelics may offer a more cost-effective and regulatory-friendly alternative to high-dose psychedelic therapy for mental disorders. |
Abstract
The substantial challenges facing high and low dose psychedelic drug development to achieve regulatory approval have been documented in the scientific literature. These limitations have not deterred drug developers and social media from repeatedly misleading patients, the public and health professionals. Developing "micro doses" of psychedelics overcomes many of the scientific and regulatory challenges of high dose psychedelics. If micro-dosing could be shown to be efficacious and safe for long term use, it could be administered in the typical model for treatment of mental disorders. Such a model would be more cost effective than the high dose/intense psychotherapy model currently described and could be readily available to all individuals who need another medication option. Outpatient psychotherapeutic agents have a clear route for approval and would be unlikely to be burdened by the extensive Risks Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy needed for high dose use. There may be a different therapeutic role for both high and low dose psychedelic agents. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, 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 | |
| The pharmacology of psilocybin | 2002 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness | 2018 | Review | |
| The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 17
- Psychedelics: Threshold of a Therapeutic Revolution Neuropharmacology May 27, 2023
- Distinctive But Not Exceptional: The Risks of Psychedelic Ethical Exceptionalism. The American Journal of Bioethics 2025
- Psychedelics for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Interpreting and Translating Available Evidence and Guidance for Future Research. American Journal of Psychiatry 2025
- Uncovering Psychedelics: From Neural Circuits to Therapeutic Applications Pharmaceuticals January 19, 2025
- Adapting psychedelic medicine for headache and chronic pain disorders. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 2023
and 12 more in the library
Cites 21
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- 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
- The promises and perils of psychedelic pharmacology for psychiatry. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery June 1, 2022
- Preparing for the Bursting of the Psychedelic Hype Bubble. JAMA Psychiatry October 1, 2022
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) promotes social behavior through mTORC1 in the excitatory neurotransmission Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 25, 2021
and 16 more in the library