Avoiding Stigma and Sensationalism in Therapeutic Psilocybin Communications: Considerations for Reaching Older Patients
Charlotte M. Gillespie, Jesse M. Bering
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry July 23, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.07.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Argues that older adults with treatment-resistant depression may hold more stigmatized attitudes toward psilocybin therapy due to the drug's illicit history and antidrug messaging, and that current clinical communication strategies may inadvertently reinforce these negative attitudes. |
Abstract
Psilocybin's efficacy as a treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has led to a wave of new legislation permitting its usage in medical settings. Older adults are affected disproportionately by TRD and may be especially good candidates for this promising treatment. However, due to the drug's past (and present) illicit status and exposure to historic antidrug messaging, older prospective patients may hold more stigmatized attitudes towards this treatment than those who are younger. Stigma and sensationalism pose special challenges for the dissemination of effective, accurate information about therapeutic psilocybin, with recent "hype" around the drug treatment possibly further alienating these individuals. Because current clinical communication strategies may be inadvertently reinforcing negative attitudes about psychedelics rather than reducing them, we offer some general communication guidelines for therapeutic psilocybin geared towards the older patient profile.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm General population | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex | 2002 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 1
Cites 18
- Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression: Impact on patient-reported depression severity, anxiety, function, and quality of life Journal of Affective Disorders February 3, 2023
- Preparing for the Bursting of the Psychedelic Hype Bubble. JAMA Psychiatry October 1, 2022
- History repeating: guidelines to address common problems in psychedelic science Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 2023
- Molecular Mechanisms of Psilocybin and Implications for the Treatment of Depression CNS Drugs November 17, 2021
- A Survey of American Psychiatrists' Attitudes Toward Classic Hallucinogens The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease May 17, 2018
and 13 more in the library