Australia's psychedelic experiment: reflections from a psychiatrist clinical researcher.
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists June 26, 2025 DOI: 10.1177/10398562251347890 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Psilocybin MDMA |
| Topics | MDMA Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Clinical trials Psychedelics Psychedelic medicine Psychedelic treatment Psychedelic healthcare Medical trials Drug trials Therapeutic investigation Efficacy studies Treatment safety Healthcare safety Risk management Patient outcomes Mental wellness Therapeutic interventions Mental health treatment |
| Key points | Argues that eight research domains (efficacy, safety, psychotherapy models, psychological support, therapeutic touch, set/setting, and naturalistic data) require further investigation to inform psychedelic-assisted therapy. |
Abstract
BackgroundDespite a limited evidence base to inform clinicians, Australia has adopted a national approach in rescheduling psilocybin and MDMA as clinical therapies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively.PurposeThis paper explores clinical research domains warranting further investigation through outlining the reflections of a clinical-academic psychiatrist involved in psychedelic trial work.ResultsEight domains were found to warrant further research investigation including: efficacy, safety (including combining with psychotropics), psychotherapy models, psychological support, therapeutic touch, set/setting and examination of naturalistic data.ConclusionsThe clinical availability of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) gives greater impetus for careful research studies, informing treatment and improving patient outcomes.