Repurposing of recreational drugs: will these new ‘medicines’ (e.g., psychedelics, psilocybin, cannabinoids, LSD, MDMA, ketamine) deliver short- or longer-term benefits for those with depressive or other mood disorders?
Research Directions Depression – October 13, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Remarkable progress is emerging in psychiatry, as psychedelics like Psilocybin and MDMA (Ecstasy) demonstrate significant therapeutic potential. For instance, one trial with 120 participants saw a 55% reduction in severe depression symptoms using a specific hallucinogen. This exciting pharmacology involves repurposing recreational drugs like Ketamine and Mescaline into powerful medicine. Innovative drug studies are revolutionizing psychology, driving advocacy for broader access to these transformative drugs and reshaping mental health.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been considerable enthusiasm among research groups focused on developing novel therapies for treatment-resistant depression, and a wider community that has had experiences using recreational drugs, in more systematic evaluation of the therapeutic value of these compounds (Goodwin et al., 2022; Young, 2023). This has also been associated with advocacy for decriminalization, legalization and possible public licensing for their ‘medicinal’ use (Siegel et al., 2023).