Hallucinogens and Their Therapeutic Use: A Literature Review.
Matthew J Begola, Jason E Schillerstrom
Journal of Psychiatric Practice September 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000409 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | ayahuasca ibogaine ketamine lysergic acid diethylamide 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Hallucinogens Entheogens Psychedelic drugs Psychotropic substances Psychiatric disorders Behavioral health Psychological well-being Psychotherapy Mental health treatment Therapeutic applications Drug research Clinical trials Medical research Pharmaceutical research Substance evaluation |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Most studies reviewed showed significant associations with improvement in psychiatric conditions, but definitive conclusions were limited by small samples, inconsistent measures, and poor study design. |
Abstract
The exploration of possible therapeutic benefits of hallucinogenic substances has undergone a revitalization in the past decade. This literature review investigated the published literature regarding the psychotherapeutic uses of hallucinogens in psychiatric disorders. The results showed that a variety of substances have been evaluated in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including ayahuasca, ibogaine, ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and psilocybin. The conditions treated ranged from depression to autism, with the largest volume of research dedicated to substance use disorders. The majority of studies that were reviewed demonstrated significant associations with improvement in the conditions investigated. However, it was difficult to draw definitive conclusions as most studies suffered from small sample sizes, inconsistent measures, and poor study design. To properly assess the risks and potential benefits of hallucinogens in psychiatric treatment, there is a need for well designed, standardized studies that demonstrate the impact of hallucinogenic substances on psychiatric conditions.