Should we skip the trip? Clinical implications of psychedelic-associated subjective effects and the potential role of non-hallucinogenic alternatives.
General hospital psychiatry July 3, 2025 Kush V Bhatt, James D Asuncion, Al Alam et al. 4 citations
Classical psychedelics show therapeutic promise for mental health conditions, but their acute subjective effects—while possibly enhancing outcomes—also pose clinical challenges. This review examines the phenomenology, benefits, risks, and implementation issues tied to these subjective experiences. Emerging research on nonhallucinogenic analogues may preserve neuroplastic benefits without inducing intense subjective effects. The authors argue that a debate over the necessity of acute subjective effects may be avoidable, and clinical psychiatry should accommodate both approaches. Future research should explore both the role of subjective experience and alternative compounds to expand treatment options.