Parents of adolescents show high acceptability toward using ketamine to treat suicidality, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, despite the drug not being FDA-approved for psychiatric use in children. In a survey of 283 English-speaking parents, primary concerns included potential side effects and lack of FDA approval. Parents preferred short-term applications and less invasive routes of administration. A parent's own history of mental illness, familiarity with psychological treatments, and comfort using other mental health interventions for their children predicted greater acceptability. The findings indicate parental interest in ketamine as a treatment for pediatric mood disorders, pointing to future research and clinical directions.
Among 2,639 Hispanic and Latin American adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) living across the Americas, 9% reported using psychedelics or related substances for treatment. Most (72%) had received traditional treatments like psychiatric medication or psychotherapy. Psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA were the most used psychedelics. Users were more likely to be male, have received non-ERP therapy, and have a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Outcomes for OCD symptoms varied widely by drug and were difficult to predict, but were most favorable for classic serotonergic psychedelics. Real-world evidence suggests Hispanic and Latin American adults are exploring psychedelics as a treatment for OCD, though further research is needed to establish safe and effective use.