Although there is growing support for the protective effects of psychedelics on mental health, recent evidence finds racial and ethnic minorities gain fewer benefits. This paper aims to test whether the disparate mental health outcomes associated with psychedelic use extend across multiple racial and ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. In order to...
Psychedelics have recently attracted significant attention for their potential to mitigate symptoms associated with various psychiatric disorders. However, the precise neurobiological mechanisms responsible for these effects remain incompletely understood. A valuable approach to gaining insights into the specific mechanisms of action involves comparing psychedelics with substances that have...
ABSTRACT The recent review of a new drug application for MDMA‐assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder by the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlighted epistemological and methodological challenges for evidence assessments. Similar challenges will also be faced in reviews of other compounds in early‐ and late‐stage development, like psilocybin for depression. The...
Mood disorders and existential distress impact those with cancer or a serious illness at higher rates than the general population. There have been limited pharmacological advances in recent years, and available psychological interventions vary in degree of impact and durability as a treatment modality in this population. A recent renaissance in psychedelic research has suggested that this class...
In recent years, there has been a significant surge of interest in psychedelic research. These studies encompass both neuroscience and their potential clinical applications. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "Psychedelic Renaissance", includes studies on compounds such as psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and LSD used for the treatment of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and...
Psychedelic science is growing at a rapid pace, and as evidence accrues, we will most likely see authorization of the use of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA augmenting the effects of psychotherapy in the coming years. Lykos therapeutics (previously called MAPS PBC) recently filed a New Drug Application to the FDA in the US and expects to be able to offer MDMA as a prescribable drug in...
Psychedelic and empathogenic compounds show promise for a variety of conditions. However, studying these compounds can be highly complex, be very expensive, and have substantial patient safety concerns. Here, the authors will review 8 late-phase medicinal psychedelic studies in the Food and Drug Adminisration (FDA) approval pipeline. The authors will include a review of the FDA's recent denial...
The Province of British Columbia (BC) is in the midst of an ongoing public health emergency, declared in 2016 in response to significant levels of drug poisonings/overdoses stemming from the unregulated drug supply. In response, BC implemented decriminalization in 2023, removing criminal sanctions for adults possessing up to 2.5 cumulative grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA....
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted body image, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy often prove inadequate, especially in severe cases, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic...
The growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for treating psychiatric disorders such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety has led to an increasing demand for specialized training. In Switzerland, MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD are applied in the framework of limited medical use as exceptional treatment options since 2014. The Swiss Medical Association for Psychedelic...