A systematic review of income and education reporting in psychedelic clinical trials
Daniel H. Grossman, Kevin R. Madden, Nicky J. Mehtani, Brian T Anderson, Lori L. Davis, Jennifer Mitchell, Peter S. Hendricks
Nature Mental Health May 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00417-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 98 |
| Population | Articles on classic psychedelics and MDMA for mental health conditions |
| Topics | Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Psychedelic treatment Hallucinogen-assisted therapy Entheogenic medicine Clinical trials Research studies Medical trials Drug trials Clinical research Diversity in research Participant diversity Research equity Inclusion in studies Socioeconomic diversity Demographic representation Health equity Healthcare access Equitable healthcare Treatment accessibility Health disparities |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Socioeconomic status is widely underreported in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials, and US trial participants have substantially higher SES than the general population. |
Abstract
Socioeconomic status (SES) substantially influences mental health outcomes and treatment access, yet its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials remains underexplored. Here we systematically reviewed 98 articles (49 primary trials and 49 secondary analyses) published between 2006 and 2024 examining classic psychedelics and MDMA for mental health conditions. Only 12% of primary trials reported participant income data, and 31% reported educational attainment. In US-based trials, participants showed markedly higher SES than the general population: 93% had some college education (versus 62% nationally), and median incomes in major trials substantially exceeded the national median for all workers. Non-US trials showed variable patterns. This widespread underreporting of SES data and evidence of socioeconomic disparities, particularly in US trials, highlights an urgent need for standardized SES reporting and targeted strategies to improve socioeconomic diversity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research, ensuring broader generalizability and access to these emerging treatments