Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics for Mental Disorders: A Systematized Review
N. Alyahya, Eithar A. Al Saleem
Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine December 17, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.4103/jnsm.jnsm_76_24 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
A systematic review of 19 studies since 2010 finds that psychedelic drugs can effectively treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, drug addiction, and mental distress associated with terminal illness, with all relevant primary studies employing safe administration guidelines. However, mania and psychosis were linked to unfavorable outcomes. The review underscores the need for more comprehensive research to understand how psychedelics affect clients with mental illnesses and to examine their effectiveness for eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders.
Study at a glance
| Design | systematic review |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Psychedelic drugs are effective for treating several mental health disorders but can be linked to mania and psychosis. |
Abstract
In this review, studies focusing on the therapeutic use of psychedelics for treating mental health disorders published since 2010 have been examined. A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline and EBSCO. After extracting data from 19 papers, an analysis was performed. Critical evidence highlighting the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs in treating depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder, drug addiction, and mental problems associated with terminal disease has been identified in the analyzed research. Guidelines for the safe administration of psychedelic therapy have been employed in all relevant primary studies. Nonetheless, mania and psychosis have been found to be linked to unfavorable outcomes. Although there has been a resurgence of research on the safety and effectiveness of psychedelics for a variety of mental health issues, the positive findings of this review reinforce the need for more comprehensive studies to better understand how psychedelics affect clients with mental illnesses. More studies are also required to examine the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating some mental illnesses, such as eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders.