Repurposing of recreational drugs: will these new ‘medicines’ (e.g., psychedelics, psilocybin, cannabinoids, LSD, MDMA, ketamine) deliver short- or longer-term benefits for those with depressive or other mood disorders?
Ian B. Hickie, F. Markus Leweke, Allan H. Young
Research Directions Depression October 13, 2023 DOI: 10.1017/dep.2023.21 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine MDMA Mescaline Psilocybin Depression Esketamine LSD |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Repurposing Pharmacology Recreational drug |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | There is growing enthusiasm for evaluating psychedelic compounds as therapies for treatment-resistant depression, alongside advocacy for their decriminalization and medicinal licensing. |
Abstract
In recent years, there has been considerable enthusiasm among research groups focused on developing novel therapies for treatment-resistant depression, and a wider community that has had experiences using recreational drugs, in more systematic evaluation of the therapeutic value of these compounds (Goodwin et al., 2022; Young, 2023). This has also been associated with advocacy for decriminalization, legalization and possible public licensing for their ‘medicinal’ use (Siegel et al., 2023).
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study of a New Schizophrenomimetic Drug—Sernyl | 1959 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| The Pharmacology of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide: A Review | 2008 | Review | |
| Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses | 2008 | Review | |
| ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE | 1984 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression. New England Journal of Medicine November 3, 2022
- Psychedelic Drug Legislative Reform and Legalization in the US JAMA Psychiatry December 7, 2022
- Ketamine: A new chapter for clinical psychopharmacology? Journal of Psychopharmacology August 1, 2023