Neuroethics
June 20, 2024
Logan Neitzke-Spruill, Caroline Beit, Jill Robinson et al.
26 citations
Psychedelic experiences can be transformative, changing how people think and behave. In interviews with 26 participants in psychedelic retreats, 20 reported insights or experiences they believed were inaccessible without the drugs' psychoactive effects. All but one participant reported changes in identity, values, beliefs, desires, or behavior, with behavioral changes being most common. Participants felt capable of deciding to use psychedelics partly because they sought information beforehand. Several reported an enhanced ability to make changes in their lives. The findings highlight the importance of subjective embodiment and personal agency in shaping outcomes, raising neuroethical issues about consent and moral psychopharmacology.
The American journal of bioethics : AJOB
January 1, 2025
Logan Neitzke-Spruill, Caroline Beit, Lynnette A Averill et al.
19 citations
The FDA rejected Lykos Therapeutics' application for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in August 2024, partly due to a highly publicized case of alleged sexual misconduct by an unlicensed therapist during a Phase 2 trial. Several other cases of misconduct by facilitators at psychedelic retreats have raised questions about whether physical contact is ever appropriate during psychedelic-assisted therapy. Drawing on research about supportive touch in other clinical settings and considering features of psychedelics that increase the potential for harm, the authors advocate for a precautionary approach to harm-reduction while arguing that supportive touch should not be entirely discarded.
Perspectives in biology and medicine
January 1, 2024
Logan Neitzke-Spruill, Neşe Devenot, Dominic Sisti et al.
7 citations
Psychedelics are again being studied for their traditional uses, medical applications, and social implications. As evidence for their clinical potential grows, researchers seek mechanisms explaining psychedelic effects and therapeutic efficacy. This paper reviews three frameworks—neurobiological, psychological, and spiritual—for understanding these effects and explores their implications for ethics and professional competencies in psychedelic medicine. The authors suggest interdisciplinary education to improve communication, develop multi-level models, and foster collaboration. They caution against overemphasizing neuro-mechanisms, risks from inducing vulnerable states, and challenges integrating spiritual frameworks. Developing new models that reflect emerging knowledge is a central goal for psychedelic science.
Psychedelic Medicine
April 23, 2026
Jill Oliver Robinson, Ruiying (aria) Xiong, Logan Neitzke-Spruill et al.
A survey of 212 US institutional review board (IRB) chairs found that many lack knowledge about psychedelic risks and benefits, with 35–51% reporting gaps. Most chairs expressed neutral attitudes toward psychedelics (35–47%) and similar confidence reviewing psychedelic and nonpsychedelic protocols (61–78%). However, 33–53% reported heightened concern about psychedelic administration research, including legal, employment, and social risks, participant safety, consent challenges, and vulnerable populations. About half (47.2%) saw heightened institutional risk. Most (82.9%) agreed with requiring extensive monitoring of psychedelic sessions, but views on other protections varied widely. The findings suggest IRBs are not broadly conservative but uncertain, with concerns mirroring unsettled issues in the field.