Beyond Psilocybin: Reviewing the Therapeutic Potential of Other Serotonergic Psychedelics in Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – August 24, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Despite reported benefits in Clinical psychology like improved mood and anxiety, evidence for many serotonergic hallucinogens remains limited. A review of 77 Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including Lysergic acid diethylamide (43 studies), Ayahuasca (24), and Mescaline (5), found low-level safety and efficacy data for these compounds. Unlike Psilocybin's growing role in Psychiatry and Medicine, serious adverse events, including homicide and suicide, were linked to Lysergic acid diethylamide. Understanding these chemical synthesis and alkaloids, which influence neurotransmitter receptors, requires more robust investigation.
Abstract
There has been a resurgence of interest in the use of psychedelic therapies for several mental and substance use disorders. Psilocybin, a "classic" serotonergic psychedelic, has emerged as one of the primary compounds of interest in clinical research. While research on psilocybin's potential mental health benefits has grown, data on the safety and efficacy of other serotonergic psychedelics remain limited. A comprehensive scoping review on the use of mescaline, ibogaine, ayahuasca, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of mental and substance disorders was conducted. Independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts and conducted data extraction. Seventy-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. There were 43 studies of LSD, 24 studies of ayahuasca, 5 studies of DMT, 5 studies of ibogaine, and 5 studies of mescaline. Commonly reported benefits included improved mood and anxiety symptoms, improved insight, reduced substance use, improved relationships, and decreased vegetative symptoms. Commonly reported adverse effects were psychological, neurological, physical, and gastrointestinal in nature. Serious adverse events (homicide and suicide) were reported in published studies of LSD. In conclusion, there is only low-level evidence to support the safety and efficacy of non-psilocybin serotonergic psychedelics in individuals with mental and substance use disorders.