Psychedelic medicine at a crossroads: Advancing an integrative approach to research and practice.
Gabriella Gobbi, Antonio Inserra, Kyle T. Greenway, Michael Lifshitz, Laurence J. Kirmayer
Transcultural Psychiatry October 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/13634615221119388 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine LSD Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Culture Psychotherapy Mental-health-treatment Psychedelic-therapy Therapeutic-context Consciousness-medicine Traditional-healing |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Psychedelic therapies may foster a novel psychiatric paradigm that integrates psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and cultural interventions. |
Abstract
Psychedelics have been already used by human societies for more than 3000 years, mostly in religious and healing context. The renewed interest in the potential application of psychedelic compounds as novel therapeutics has led to promising preliminary evidence of clinical benefit in some psychiatric disorders. Despite these promising results, the potential for large-scale clinical application of these profoundly consciousness-altering substances, in isolation from the sociocultural contexts in which they were traditionally used, raises important concerns. These concerns stem from the recognition that the mechanisms of therapeutic action of psychedelics are not entirely dependent on neurobiology, but also on the psychological, social and spiritual processes for their efficacy. For these reasons, physicians or psychotherapists involved in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy need training in ways to accompany patients through this experience to promote positive outcomes and address potential side effects. Psychedelic therapies may foster the emergence of a novel paradigm in psychiatry that integrates psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and cultural interventions for patients with mental health issues.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Culture, context, and ethics in the therapeutic use of hallucinogens: Psychedelics as active super-placebos? Transcultural Psychiatry October 1, 2022
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. CNS Drugs September 1, 2023
- Psychedelics in developmental stuttering to modulate brain functioning: a new therapeutic perspective? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 19, 2024
- Variability in Cultural Understandings of Consciousness: A Call for Dialogue with Native Psychologies Journal of Consciousness Studies June 1, 2023
- Psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence Psychedelics October 28, 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 45
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
and 40 more in the library