Psychedelic drugs as a long-needed innovation in psychiatry
Qeios April 27, 2020 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.32388/t3em5e via OpenAlex
Summary
The therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs in psychotherapeutic settings may offer a promising treatment for mental health patients, addressing the ongoing challenges in psychiatry where many mental disorders still lack effective therapies. This approach combines pharmacological action with enhanced psychotherapy, potentially leading to enduring effects for patients.
Study at a glance
| Population | mental health patients |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Psychedelic psychotherapy could provide an important innovation in treating mental disorders by combining pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. |
Abstract
The field of psychiatry is facing unprecedented challenges. Despite recent important innovations, several mental disorders continue to lack effective treatment. After briefly exploring some of the current challenges, we suggest that the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs in psychotherapeutic settings represents a promising and integrative treatment with enduring effects for mental health patients. We then propose that psychedelic psychotherapy could be an important innovation in the field, providing a treatment that combines complex pharmacological action with enhanced psychotherapeutic interventions.