Hallucinogens and Their Therapeutic Use: A Literature Review
Journal of Psychiatric Practice – September 01, 2019
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Hallucinogens like psilocybin, ayahuasca, lysergic acid diethylamide, and mescaline show promising therapeutic potential in psychiatry. Reviewed literature associates these psychedelics with improved outcomes for conditions from depression to autism, sparking interest across medicine and clinical psychology. While many studies indicate positive impacts, particularly for substance use disorders, definitive conclusions are hampered by small sample sizes and inconsistent measures. Future investigations are crucial to fully understand their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, beyond forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
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.