Psychedelic-assisted therapy: Magical thinking or a meaningful treatment for mental illness

Abstract

Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that are known to alter perception, alter mood, and affect numerous cognitive processes. Throughout history, psychedelics were utilized in ceremonies and rituals, and in the 20th century, their utilization in psychiatry began. In the 1960s they became a banned substance and are only recently being revisited for their benefits. The main forms of psychedelic substances being studied today are Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for addiction therapy, Psilocybin for palliative care, and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper focuses on the benefits of utilizing psychedelics for specific psychiatric conditions and is meant to encourage further research into this domain of Psychiatry.