A systematic review of income and education reporting in psychedelic clinical trials
Nature Mental Health – May 01, 2025
Source: CORE
Summary
Psychedelic therapy trials often lack diverse participants. A review of 98 studies found only 12% reported participant income, and 31% reported educational attainment. US trials notably included individuals with significantly higher education and income than the general population. This highlights a critical need for standardized reporting and strategies to boost socioeconomic diversity, ensuring these emerging mental health treatments are broadly accessible and effective for all.
Abstract
Socioeconomic status (SES) substantially influences mental health outcomes and treatment access, yet its reporting in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials remains underexplored. Here we systematically reviewed 98 articles (49 primary trials and 49 secondary analyses) published between 2006 and 2024 examining classic psychedelics and MDMA for mental health conditions. Only 12% of primary trials reported participant income data, and 31% reported educational attainment. In US-based trials, participants showed markedly higher SES than the general population: 93% had some college education (versus 62% nationally), and median incomes in major trials substantially exceeded the national median for all workers. Non-US trials showed variable patterns. This widespread underreporting of SES data and evidence of socioeconomic disparities, particularly in US trials, highlights an urgent need for standardized SES reporting and targeted strategies to improve socioeconomic diversity in psychedelic-assisted therapy research, ensuring broader generalizability and access to these emerging treatments