The therapeutical role of psychedelic drugs in treatment of mental disorders
Bulletin of Integrative Psychiatry – September 15, 2021
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelics, historically used in spiritual practices, are now demonstrating significant therapeutic promise in modern Psychiatry. These powerful compounds, central to many Drug Studies, include two main groups: indoleamines like psilocybin and LSD, and phenethylamines such as mescaline. Their influence on behavior stems from acting primarily on the 5-HT2 serotonergic Neurotransmitter Receptor. This mechanism is being explored in Psychology and Medicine for conditions like anxiety, major depressive disorder, and addictions. The chemical synthesis of certain alkaloids offers new tools for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs (also called hallucinogens, psychotogenics, psycholytics, entheogens) are substances that act mainly on the 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor.There are two main groups of psychedelics: indoleamines (lysergic acid diethylamide-LSD, N, N-dimethyltryptamine-DMT, and psilocybin) and phenethylamines (mescaline, dimethoxymethamphetamine-DOM, methylenedioxyamphetamine-MDA, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine-MDMA).These drugs have a long history, being used in the past in spiritual and religious ceremonies and also in the treatment of physical and mental illnesses.Studies have been conducted over the years on the therapeutic utility of these psychedelic drugs (especially psilocybin, LSD) in the psychiatric field and their beneficial effect has been highlighted in conditions such as anxiety, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol addiction, smoking addiction.