Psychedelic-assisted therapy: Magical thinking or a meaningful treatment for mental illness
Megha Kodancha
UCC Student Medical Journal September 4, 2024 DOI: 10.33178/smj.2024.1.13 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key findings | Psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA show potential benefits for treating addiction, palliative care, and PTSD, respectively. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer Journal of Psychopharmacology January 9, 2020
- The paradoxical psychological effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) Psychological Medicine February 5, 2016
and 5 more in the library