Eligibility for psychedelic therapy: Clinical trial medical exclusion criteria and their implications for hospital practice.
General hospital psychiatry January 1, 2026 Martin L Williams, Karen Hitchcock, Angus H Miller et al.
Classic psychedelics, which primarily activate serotonin receptors but also affect other receptor and transporter systems, can cause physiological responses that pose risks to some individuals. These risks must be balanced against the potential neuropsychological benefits of psychedelic therapies. This analysis critically evaluated medical exclusion criteria used in clinical studies of psychedelic-assisted therapy listed on international registries, examining their rationale and medical basis. The evolution of these criteria over twenty-five years of research was considered, along with their applicability in hospital-based psychiatry as psychedelic therapies move from clinical trials into clinical practice.