The article argues that the humanities and social sciences are essential for understanding psychedelic experiences, because these experiences are shaped by context, culture, and personal history—factors often overlooked by biomedical research. It introduces the concept of "anthropotechnics" to analyze how cultural practices and settings influence the outcomes of psychedelic use. The authors contend that integrating humanistic perspectives can provide a more complete picture of how set and setting affect psychedelic experiences, moving beyond purely neurobiological explanations.
Before psychedelic-assisted therapy can be integrated into mainstream medicine, a thorough understanding of its risks and adverse effects is critical. Current clinical trials have left knowledge gaps, and a comprehensive analysis of human receptor pharmacology is needed to guide safe dosing and identify drug-drug interactions with common antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. Post-approval pharmacovigilance will be essential for patient safety, and future trials must include more ethnically diverse populations. This innovation in psychiatry requires careful, stepwise safety and risk-benefit evaluations to maximize patient benefit.