Psychedelic trials face downsides of the 'trip'.
Science (New York, N.Y.) – March 07, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Clinical trials exploring therapeutic benefits of psychedelics face a unique challenge: participants know when they're getting the real drug due to its obvious effects. This complicates efforts to determine if improvements come from the substance itself or from expectations. Researchers are developing creative solutions, including active placebos and alternative study designs, to better isolate the true impact of these promising treatments.
Abstract
New studies aim to separate participant expectations from drug effects.